Update: LASEMA Discloses Cause Of WAEC Building Fire In Lagos

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has disclosed that the fire incident at the headquarters of the West African Examination (WAEC) in Lagos State on Wednesday morning was caused by a power surge.

Naija News reported earlier that there was tension in the Yaba area of the state after the building housing offices of WAEC officials gutted fire.

An eyewitness who spoke with newsmen earlier on the incident explained that a council staff believed to have been trapped between some floors was seen attempting to jump through the window of the 12-floor building to escape being suffocated.

In a statement made available to newsmen hours after the event, LASEMA noted that seven persons were rescued alive from the fire incident.

The government agency told Channels Television that upon arrival at the aforementioned location, its officials found a section of the WAEC HQ multi-storey building on fire.

Further investigations, according to LASEMA, 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 statement said.

According to the agency, a post-disaster assessment and staff headcount are ongoing.

“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,” LASEMA added in the statement.