SaharaReporters learned that two men died in the early hours of yesterday as the renovation of an underground fuel tank went awry at Fagbems filling station in Ojodu, Lagos. The scene of the fatalities is located near Oando bus stop in the Berger area of Lagos. [slideshow]45960[/slideshow]
Our correspondent reported that two men, one identified as Adekunle Ipaye, the other known by his nickname of United, died after they were trapped in a confined underground fuel tank. A paramedic with the Emergency Response Team (ERT) who responded to an emergency call stated that the two men died from suffocation and inhalation of toxic emission inside the underground tank. He disclosed that the tragic development happened around 6.10 a.m. on Friday March 25, 2016. “The two men were carrying out underground cleaning and renovation of the tank of the Fagbems petrol station,” the source said.
Agents of the Lagos State Fire Services and members of the ERT recovered the bodies of the two victims. Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit removed the corpses to the Lagos Mainland Hospital mortuary. Our correspondent reported that the police visited the scene of the deaths.
A Lagos State official, Michael Akindele, assured that proper investigation would be conducted to ascertain what led to the incident. He urged contractors to always use the right equipment and also to adhere to safety precautions while carrying out underground cleaning and other duties.