Photo: Smoke billowing as the High Commission is engulfed by inferno.
2 killed, 2 injured as Canada’s High Commission is gutted by fire
Two people have died and two others injured following a diesel tank explosion, which culminated in an inferno that gutted a section of Canada’s High Commission in Abuja on Monday.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed the incident in a
statement issued by Mrs Nkechi Isa, its Head of Public Affairs on Monday.
According to her, the diesel tank exploded in the generator house of the High Commission while two MIKANO generators were being serviced by a five-man team from JMD company.
She said: “One of the generators was said to be working, while the other was being serviced when a tank containing 2,000 litres of diesel in the generator house exploded.
“Two of the personnel servicing the generator died from the explosion while two others survived with severe burns and were taken to the Trauma Centre at the National Hospital, Abuja.”
Isa added that the FCT Fire Service was able to contain the fire while ambulances from the Ministry of Defence, Federal Fire Service, FEMA were on standby.
Reacting to the development, the acting Director-General, FEMA, Mr Mohammed Sabo, called for caution while handling petroleum products, particularly with the onset of the dry season.
