Panic swept through workers and residents around the Kirikiri Canal on Wednesday after a fire broke out on a vessel that was undergoing repairs, leaving one person seriously injured.
Eyewitnesses said the vessel had been docked for routine maintenance when sparks from welding work allegedly set off flammable materials on board, triggering a fire that sent heavy smoke billowing into the sky.
The ship, commonly used to transport diesel from offshore sites to facilities on land and to deliver food supplies to offshore personnel, was reportedly not in operation when the incident occurred.
A worker identified simply as Mr Ade suffered severe injuries during the blaze and was immediately evacuated for treatment at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital.
One eyewitness, who identified himself as Bukahid, said he hurried to the location at about 3:30 p.m. after hearing a loud explosion.
“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 alongside officials from the Lagos State Waterways Authority arrived swiftly at the scene.
The teams battled the flames for several hours before successfully bringing the situation under control around 6:00 p.m., preventing the fire from causing more damage or injuries.
At the time this report was filed, authorities had yet to officially determine the exact cause of the fire.