Explosion, fire at port in Lagos
2013-01-09 15:59
-
Nigeria
How Ethnic Rivalry and Religious Fundamentalism Threatens Africa's Most Populous Nation
Was R342.95
Now R308.66
buy now
Lagos - An explosion and fire hit an area of Nigeria's main
seaport on Wednesday in the country's largest city of Lagos, shaking buildings
in the area and wounding at least four people, an official said.
Details were still emerging of the incident in the Apapa
area of Lagos, but initial information indicated there had been an explosion on
a ship and fire broke out afterward in an area where fuel was being unloaded at
a jetty.
"There was a ship that was trying to discharge into an
oil tank owned by [Nigerian firm] MRS and there was a fire, but I don't yet
have any details as to what led to the fire," said Ibrahim Farinloye of
the National Emergency Management Agency.
"We are trying to isolate the ship so that we can
quench the fire."
He said later that four people were wounded and that the
explosion appeared to come from a ship. Residents reported an explosion that
caused buildings to shake, and a huge plume of smoke was rising from the area.
Firefighters were working to douse the flames. The port
includes jetties where fuel importers unload petroleum products.
"I felt the explosion from where we are," said
Charles Osagie, who works at an import and export office in the district.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and largest oil
producer with some 160 million people. Lagos is considered the continent's
second-biggest city after Cairo.
