The bodies of two adult males have been recovered from the debris of the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Lagos Island, days after a devastating fire razed the multi-storey building.
The victims, whose identities are yet to be ascertained, were found on Friday during ongoing search and rescue operations at the Marina axis, where the high-rise structure was severely damaged by the inferno.
The fire, which broke out on Thursday, was said to have started from the fourth floor of the 25-storey building before spreading to the sixth floor and other sections of the property, as well as adjoining structures.
A portion of the building reportedly collapsed during the incident, trapping some traders beneath the rubble, while the blaze also affected nearby properties, including the Old Lagos Central Mosque.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, proved unsuccessful as he had yet to respond to enquiries as of press time.
However, a LASEMA official, who spoke anonymously, confirmed the recovery of the bodies during the ongoing operation.
“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 said.
Emergency responders were said to be continuing search, recovery and safety operations at the scene to account for all affected persons and avert further danger.