A fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon at the six-story Afriland Tower on Broad Street, Marina, Lagos Island, trapping dozens of workers inside the commercial building.
The structure, which houses a branch of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), was engulfed in smoke around 1:30 p.m., forcing panicked employees to flee. Eyewitness videos shared online showed some workers jumping from upper floors in desperate attempts to escape.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, supported by the Federal Fire Service, arrived swiftly on the scene and battled the flames for hours before bringing the situation under control by late afternoon.
Authorities confirmed that at least 11 people sustained injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to fractures sustained in escape attempts. All victims were evacuated to nearby hospitals, while no fatalities have been reported so far.
Officials say investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire, with early reports suggesting the possibility of electrical faults.
The incident has raised concerns over fire safety compliance and emergency preparedness in high-rise commercial buildings within Lagos Island’s busy business district.
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