20 escape death as gas cylinder explodes

A fire incident has been reported at the Ifako-Gbagada area of Lagos State.
The fire allegedly started on the topmost floor of the two storey building on Number 8, Julius Kadiri Street.
More than 20 people escaped death after the landlady of the apartment was said to have raised the alarm that her gas cylinder had exploded when she attempted to lit the burner.
The incident happened about 7.30pm on Monday when residents of the apartment were arriving their homes.
The landlady, simply identified as Iya Ijebu Alhaja, a mother of five, had lived in the apartment for more than 10 years.
Fire fighters were at the scene and their intervention stopped the fire from spreading to other floors.
There was panic in the area when the shout of “fire, fire, fire” was heard and other occupants and neighbours fled.
A resident, who witnessed the incident, said: “The landlady, Iya Ijebu Alhaja, was cooking on her gas burner on the topmost floor when the cylinder exploded and caused a big bang.
“She fled the kitchen and ran out of the house with her children.
“That was how the fire spread and caused panic.
“Everybody ran out of the building.
“The topmost floor was badly affected but three vehicles of fire fighters and other rescue workers hurried to the scene and put off the fire before it could spread to the other floor.
“Nobody died but people sustained injury as a result of running out of fear.”