By Our Correspondent
Pandemonium has broken out in the early hours of Wednesday, as fire gutted the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC building in Yaba area of Lagos State.
According to reports, several people are still trapped in the building as the fire rages.
The cause of the fire which started at about 6.50 am, was yet to be ascertained as of 7.15 am. The fire had broken out at the middle of the high-rise building as those trapped in the building were seen frantically calling for help.
It was gathered that men of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other emergency responder are presently at the scene to put out the raging fire.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said that the fire incident was caused by a “power surge”.
The agency said seven female staff were trapped on the fifth and seventh floors — but were eventually evacuated.
“Upon arrival at the aforementioned location, a section of the WAEC HQ multi-storey building was found to be on fire,” LASEMA said in an update on the situation.
“Further investigations revealed that the fire started on the 3rd floor of the 12-storey building due to a power surge.
“A total of seven female staff of the Corporation were trapped on the 5th and 7th floors and were safely evacuated due to the swift response of the Rescue team on the ground. The fire has also been put off and dampening down concluded.
“The combined efforts of the Agency’s team alongside the Agency’s Paramedics, LASG FIRE, FED FIRE, UNILAG FIRE, LASAMBUS, and LASTMA are on the ground to ensure a swift recovery.”
The agency added that the recovery operation is still ongoing.
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