A fire was reported at the Arena Market in Oshodi, Lagos on Tuesday, leaving traders and residents in panic as flames engulfed parts of the busy commercial centre.
Videos circulated on social media showed thick smoke and bright flames engulfing the market structures, while traders and bystanders tried to save goods amid the chaos. The footage shows that the fire spread rapidly, putting several stalls and properties at risk.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said that fire service officials were not present, but they struggled to control the fire due to apparent lack of water supply. This reportedly hindered efforts to quickly bring the situation under control.
Till the time of writing the news, the cause of the fire could not be clarified. There has been no official confirmation from emergency officials on the extent of damage or possible casualties.
The Arena Market is one of Lagos' busiest trading centres, and fires in the area often raise concerns about the lack of infrastructure, emergency response preparedness and the vulnerability of informal markets to recurring disasters.
