Two Bodies Recovered From Rubble Of Burnt Great Nigeria Insurance Building In Lagos

The bodies of two adult men, whose identities have not yet been confirmed, were discovered among the rubble of the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Lagos Island after a devastating fire engulfed the high-rise building on Thursday.

The bodies were recovered on Friday during continued search and rescue operations at the Marina axis, where the multi-storey structure was severely damaged by the inferno.

Recall that the blaze originated from the fourth floor of the 25-storey building before spreading to the sixth floor and subsequently consuming other levels, as well as nearby structures.

During the incident, a section of the building reportedly collapsed, leaving some traders trapped beneath the rubble.

The fire also extended to surrounding properties, including the Old Lagos Central Mosque.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, were unsuccessful as he had not responded to enquiries as of press time.

However, a LASEMA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the two bodies were discovered during ongoing operations to locate victims believed to have been trapped.

“Two bodies were recovered today during the search exercise. The first was found at about 11:03 a.m., while the second was recovered around 12:03 p.m.,” the official disclosed.

Search, recovery and safety operations are said to be continuing at the scene as emergency teams work to account for all affected persons and prevent further hazards.