A major fire outbreak has thrown operations into chaos at the old terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, with reports indicating that about 10 people are currently trapped inside the control tower.
SUNTV Global Channel gathered that the blaze, which started on Sunday evening, is still raging as firefighters battle intensely to contain it and prevent further destruction.
Sources at the scene revealed that the trapped individuals are believed to be on the sixth floor of the terminal building, where the airport’s control tower is located. Emergency responders are working urgently to reach them despite heavy smoke and the growing intensity of the flames.
An airport official who spoke during the ongoing rescue efforts said visibility remains poor due to thick smoke, making it difficult to determine whether more people may be trapped elsewhere in the building.
“About 10 people are stuck at the control tower on the sixth floor. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but the smoke is very heavy and the fire is still burning,” the source disclosed.
Authorities suspect the fire may have been triggered by an electrical fault, although the exact cause has not yet been confirmed.
Eyewitnesses also reported seeing a helicopter hovering around the airport premises. However, its role in the emergency response remains unclear, as it does not appear to be directly involved in rescue operations.
The incident has raised fresh safety concerns at the airport, which is currently undergoing a multi-billion-naira renovation.
This is not the first such occurrence at the facility. In September 2023, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria confirmed a smoke incident at the same airport’s Terminal 1, which was traced to an electrical spark linked to a burning lithium inverter battery.
As of press time, firefighters remain on site battling the flames while emergency teams continue efforts to rescue those trapped.
