The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has narrated the circumstances leading to the d3ath of 2 persons in a fire that engulfed the Canadian High Commission.
The agency confirmed that a diesel tank explosion was responsible for the tragic fire incident that happened on Monday.
The High Commission of Canada is located at 13010G, Palm Close, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District in Abuja.
Nkechi Isa, Head of Public Affairs at FEMA in a statement, said the diesel tank exploded around 10:45a.m. in the generator house of the High Commission as two MIKANO generators were being serviced by a five-man team.
She added that the FCT Fire Service was only able to contain the fire around 12.30 p.m. while ambulances from the Ministry of Defence, Federal Fire Service, and FEMA were on standby.
Isa said that the inferno killed two persons and injured two others, who are currently at the Trauma Centre at the National Hospital, Abuja.
In her words, “One of the generators was said to be working, while the other one 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.”
Reacting to the development, the acting Director-General of FEMA, Mohammed Sabo, called for caution while handling petroleum products, particularly with the onset of the dry season.
Sabo appealed to residents to always use the 112 emergency toll-free number in any disaster or emergency situation.