Two adult men, yet to be identified, have been recovered dead from the debris of the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Lagos Island, days after a massive fire gutted the high-rise building.
The bodies were found on Friday during ongoing search and rescue operations at the Marina axis, where the multi-storey structure was severely damaged by the inferno that broke out on Thursday.
Reports indicate that the fire started on the fourth floor of the 25-storey building before spreading to the sixth floor and other sections of the structure, as well as adjoining buildings.
During the incident, part of the building reportedly collapsed, trapping some traders beneath the rubble. The fire also spread to nearby properties, including the Old Lagos Central Mosque.
Efforts to reach the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, for official comments were unsuccessful as of press time.
However, a LASEMA official, who spoke anonymously, confirmed the recovery of the bodies during ongoing operations to locate victims believed to have been trapped in the building.
“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 are continuing search, recovery and safety operations at the scene as authorities work to account for all affected persons and prevent further hazards.