There was pandemonium at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) on Monday, as fire engulfed one of the buildings in the hospital premises, causing panic among staff, patients, and visitors.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire started at about 11 a.m. in the early hours of the day, and quickly spread to different parts of the building. Many people were seen scampering for safety as thick smoke billowed from the affected building.
The Lagos State Fire Service and other emergency responders were quickly on hand to put out the fire, which lasted for about two hours. It was gathered that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in one of the affected building’s air conditioning units.
Confirming the incident, the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, assured the public that the fire has been successfully put out, and that no lives were lost in the incident.
He further advised members of the public to be more cautious in their use of electrical appliances and to report any electrical faults to the appropriate authorities, to prevent the occurrence of such incidents in the future.
Reacting to the incident, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo, expressed gratitude to the emergency responders for their prompt response, which he said minimized the damage caused by the fire.
The hospital management also assured the public that despite the incident, the hospital would continue to provide quality healthcare services to patients, even as they work to address the damage caused by the fire.
In light of recent events related to suicide and self-harm, it is important to note that no form of self-harm or intentional injury was reported in connection with this incident. It is crucial that the media and the public avoid speculations that may promote or glorify self-harm or suicide as it goes against Facebook’s policy on harmful and dangerous content.
