An inferno has engulfed a section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
Thick smokes ascended the atmosphere of the airport on Wednesday morning, leading to a pandemonium.
The incident affected some operations. Passengers and airport personnel were quickly evacuated from the building.
The fire outbreak was reported at the Old Terminal building close to the baggage hall.
It was gathered that some parts of the Account Department of FAAN at the Lagos airport were razed by fire on Tuesday night around 8 p.m., while the international terminal of the same airport was engulfed in fire at 7:23 a.m. on Wednesday.
As of the time of filing this report, fire services were seen at the scene of the fire incident battling to put out the fir
The cause of the fire outbreak is yet to be ascertained.
However, a statement by Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, FAAN, said that the fire incident was due to an electrical spark at the baggage hall ceiling of the airport.
According to Yakubu-Funtua, the fire incident occurred at about 07:23 hours on Wednesday and led to a smoke at the terminal.
He said that the source of the smoke was identified as a burning lithium inverter battery installation in the basement.
He said that at exactly 07:30hrs, the firefighters from the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS), a department in FAAN and the Electrical Department of the authority initiated immediate action.
He noted that the response and professional efforts successfully brought the situation under control.
The statement added: “In accordance with our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of passengers, staff, and all airport users, the terminal building was promptly evacuated due to the smoke that had permeated some areas of the facility.
“We are pleased to report that the situation is presently under control.”