No fewer than nine persons on Thursday sustained various degrees of injury after a Lagos Ferry (LagFerry) boat caught fire at the Ipakodo Jetty in Ikorodu after the fully loaded boat was preparing to depart for its destination.
The Victoria Island bound ferry reportedly went up in flames around 6:45 a.m. following a loud explosion from within the ferry according to eye witness account which led to passengers scrambling for safety, with some jumping into the water for survival.
According to the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), the LagFerry boat, “Igbega Eko,” had 19 passengers onboard at the time of the incident.
The agency confirmed that all nine injured individuals, including passengers, LASWA personnel, and LagFerry staff, were receiving medical treatment and showing significant improvement.
LASWA further stated that six of the victims were being cared for at the General Hospital, Ikorodu, where medical personnel were closely monitoring their recovery.
According to information available to this medium, investigation into the cause of the incident is actively underway, and comprehensive safety reviews are being conducted to prevent any similar occurrences.