The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed in a statement that nine people were rescued alive while five others were successfully resuscitated after being overcome by smoke.
According to the agency, the inferno began in the building’s basement inverter room around 1:38 p.m., quickly filling multiple floors with thick smoke and triggering an urgent evacuation.
Eyewitness videoscirculating on social media showed chaotic scenes as traders, workers, and passersby desperately helped one another out of the smoke-filled structure before emergency responders arrived.
“Several individuals managed to escape unhurt, while intensive efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety of all occupants,” the Fire and Rescue Service said.
Firefighters eventually contained the blaze, while medical teams provided emergency care at the site.
The incident sparked widespread concern on social media, with many praising the swift response of rescue teams and bystanders who risked their lives to save others.
