Emmanuel Ukudolo
Nigeria, March 25, 2016 – At least two technicians have been confirmed killed at FAGBEMS Petrol Station at Berger, Lagos while cleaning an underground fuel tank in the station as part of ongoing renovation.
The two technicians, identified as Adekunle Ipaye and Nick aka United, were trapped in the underground tank during the cleaning exercise.
Speaking on the development, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency(LASEMA), Mr. Michael Akindele said the two victims died as result of suffocation and gas emission inside the underground tank early hours of Friday 25th March, 2016 at about 6.10 am while carrying out underground cleaning and renovation of the tank.
“An incident involving 2 adult male identified as Adekunle Ipaye and another nick named as United got trapped in a confined underground fuel tank.
“According to investigation conducted by the Agency’s ERT at the incident scene it was gathered that the two victims died as result of suffocation and gas emission inside the underground tank early hours of Friday 25th March, 2016 at about 6.10 am while carrying out underground cleaning and renovation of the tank of a petrol station (Fagbems) located at Oando bus-stop Berger”, he said.
He told starconnectmedia.com that officials of the Lagos State Fire Services and LASEMA Emergency Response Team recovered the two bodies from the underground fuel tank.
He said the bodies have been evacuated by State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit to the Lagos Mainland Hospital Mortuary.
Akindele added that proper investigation would be conducted to ascertain what led to the incident.
He however warned contractors to use right equipment and also adhere to other safety precautions while carrying out underground cleaning and other duties.
