Fire guts vessel at Kirikiri canal, one injured

Panic gripped workers and residents around Kirikiri Canal in Apapa, Lagos, on Tuesday after a fire broke out aboard a ship undergoing maintenance, leaving one person severely injured.

Eyewitnesses said the vessel was docked for routine repairs when sparks from welding operations ignited inflammable materials onboard, triggering a blaze that sent thick smoke billowing into the sky. The ship, used to transport diesel from offshore locations to shore facilities as well as food supplies to workers at sea, was reportedly not in active service at the time of the incident.

One of the workers, identified simply as Mr. Ade, sustained serious injuries in the fire and was immediately evacuated to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Apapa, for treatment.

An eyewitness who gave his name as Bukahid said he rushed to the scene around 3:30 p.m. after hearing a loud bang. “They were welding on the ship when the fire broke out. We quickly moved to rescue Mr. Ade who was caught in the blaze and took him to the hospital,” he said.

Emergency responders from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) swiftly mobilised to the scene, battling the flames for hours before successfully extinguishing the fire around 6:00 p.m., preventing further casualties and damage.

As of press time, the exact cause of the incident had yet to be officially confirmed by the relevant authorities.