- Fire breaks out at the old terminal of MMIA Lagos.
- Ten individuals remain trapped on the sixth floor control tower.
- Electrical fault suspected as emergency crews battle the blaze.
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos was plunged into a state of severe crisis on Monday evening as a massive fire broke out at the facility’s old terminal.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the incident has caused widespread panic among travelers, airport staff, and security personnel as the blaze continues to rage despite the efforts of multiple firefighting teams.
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The most harrowing aspect of the ongoing emergency is the report that approximately ten people are currently trapped within the airport’s control tower.
These individuals, mostly technical staff and aviation officials, are reportedly stuck on the sixth floor of the building, where thick, billowing smoke has made evacuation efforts exceptionally difficult and dangerous.
According to eyewitness reports and airport officials who spoke at the scene, the fire became noticeably intense in the late afternoon.
By 5:15 p.m., the volume of flames had escalated, filling the terminal with a dense cloud of black smoke that could be seen from miles away.
The trapped individuals are currently situated in a high-risk area, and while emergency responders are working tirelessly to reach them, the sheer density of the smoke in the corridors and stairwells has hampered immediate rescue missions.
An official on the ground noted that the exact number of people trapped could potentially be higher, as visibility within the building has dropped to near zero in several key operational sections.
The timing of this disaster is particularly significant given that the terminal is currently undergoing a multibillion-naira renovation project intended to modernize the aging facility.
The irony of such a significant financial investment being threatened by a devastating inferno has not been lost on observers and stakeholders in the aviation sector.
While an official investigation into the origin of the fire is yet to be conducted, early suspicions from those on-site point toward a major electrical fault.
This theory is supported by the fact that several renovation activities involving electrical wiring and heavy infrastructure were ongoing in the specific sections where the smoke was first spotted.
Adding to the surreal and tense nature of the scene is the presence of a helicopter roving persistently around the airport terminal.
While initial hopes were that the aircraft was part of a coordinated rescue effort to airlift those trapped on the sixth floor, sources at the airport indicated that it did not appear to be involved in any active extraction maneuvers.
Instead, the craft is suspected to be a police or security surveillance vehicle monitoring the perimeter and the crowd of onlookers.
The lack of a visible aerial rescue plan has added to the frustration and agony of families and colleagues waiting anxiously on the tarmac for any news regarding the safety of the ten trapped individuals.
This is not the first time MMIA has faced such a daunting challenge.
In September 2023, a similar fire incident occurred at the international wing, which was eventually traced back to a faulty lithium inverter battery in the basement.
That previous event led to widespread calls for upgraded fire safety protocols and more rigorous electrical maintenance.
However, today’s blaze suggests that deep-seated systemic issues regarding fire prevention and emergency response at Nigeria’s busiest airport may still persist.
As the night approaches, the focus remains entirely on the life-saving mission to evacuate the control tower and prevent the fire from spreading to the more modern wings of the airport.
