A fire incident at the High Commission of Canada in Nigeria, situated in Abuja’s Central Business District, has resulted in the loss of two lives and caused severe burns to two other individuals who are now receiving medical treatment. 

Amiola Adebayo, the Head of Operations of the FCT Fire Service, confirmed the incident and stated that two individuals tragically lost their lives, while approximately three to four other victims have been urgently taken to hospitals for treatment due to the severity of their injuries.

“Yes, yes, it’s true. We have two fatally injured and the others in the hospital, either three or four,” he said.

However, Adebayo did not specify the cause of the fire incident or provide information about whether the affected individuals were foreign expatriates or Nigerian citizens.

A statement issued by Nkechi Isa, the Head of Public Affairs at the FCT Emergency Management Agency, revealed that the incident was the result of a diesel explosion in the generator house of the Canadian Embassy. This explosion led to two individuals suffering fatal injuries, and two other victims were promptly transported to the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital in Abuja.

Isa further explained that the incident took place around 10:30 a.m. on Monday morning when a five-person team from a JMD company was conducting maintenance on the Mikano generators used by the Embassy.

“A diesel tank explosion in the generator house at the Canadian Embassy in the Federal Capital Territory has left two persons dead and two hospitalized at the National Hospital Trauma Centre with severe burns. The incident happened at about 10:45 am today.

“One of the power-generating sets was said to be working, while the other one was being serviced. The fire occurred when the tank of diesel in the generator house, containing 2000 litres of diesel, exploded.

“Two of the personnel servicing the generator were fatally injured, and two people survived and are on admission at the National Hospital Trauma Centre with severe burns”, the statement read.

Nkechi also explained that men of the FCT Fire Service were able to contain the fire around 12.30 pm, adding that the victims of the fire were Nigerians.

“Reacting to the incident, the Acting Director General of FEMA, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim Sabo, called for caution in the handling of petroleum products, particularly with the onset of the dry season”, the statement also read.

Meanwhile, ambulances from the Ministry of Defence Ship House, the Abuja Federal Fire Service, and the FCT Emergency Management Agency were reportedly on hand at the scene of the incident.

Eyewitnesses claim that the dead victims were blown out of the generator house by the force of the explosion, while one had escaped through the roof.