The death toll in the gas explosion on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, in the Maryland area of Lagos State, on Thursday night, has risen to five.

This was made known by the Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, on Friday morning, while giving an update on the incident.

Bamgbose-Martins said three victims died at the scene while two died at the hospital.

He said “Lives were lost. We had about 13 people rescued but we understand that out of the 13 people, we’ve lost two of them which means that we’ve only rescued 11. We’ve recovered three bodies again this morning. They’ve started moving them away from here.”

According to him, investigation is ongoing, adding that a special committee by the state government, which has agencies of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as members, is working to end gas explosions in the state.

In addition, the spokesman for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okunbor, confirmed that five persons lost their lives in the explosion which occurred around 11pm on Thursday.

Over 22 vehicles were burnt in the inferno that followed the explosion while the Ogun State Property & Investment Corporation Plaza was badly damaged.