The number of casualties from Tuesday’s Afriland Towers fire on Broad Street, Lagos Island, has climbed to 10, following the confirmation of six additional deaths on Thursday.
Officials believe the blaze was triggered by an inverter explosion that engulfed the eight-storey building, forcing occupants to scramble for safety.
Victims Identified
- United Capital Plc, a financial and investment services firm occupying the 3rd and 4th floors, confirmed it lost six employees.
- Earlier, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) announced the deaths of four staff members in the incident.
In a statement, United Capital expressed “profound grief,” describing the deceased as “an integral part of our company and family,” and pledged support to the victims’ loved ones while planning a memorial service.
Emergency Response
Emergency responders rescued several occupants, but eyewitnesses reported that “not everyone made it out alive.” Authorities have yet to issue a final official casualty figure.
The Afriland Towers tragedy underscores the urgent need for rigorous safety checks and fire-prevention measures in high-rise buildings across Lagos.
