Three persons have died as gas explosion rocked Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Tuesday afternoon.

A 50kg Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cylinder was said to have exploded at the frontage of a row of shops at Abule Pan, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ibeju Lekki.

The gas explosion occurred around 3:34pm on Tuesday.

Loud bang was heard in the area with balls of fire enveloping the atmosphere, leading to pandemonium in the area when the gas explosion occurred.

The Director/CEO, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, Margaret Adeseye, in a statement said the explosion involved LNG (industrial gas) cylinder of about 50kg assembled at the frontage of a row of shops.

Adeseye said the Lekki Phase II Fire Station of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services complemented by Health Environment officials, military officials, Federal Road Safety Corps officials and Ibeju Lekki Local Government joined hands to combat the inferno.

She said the cause of the explosion might be mishandling of the gas cylinder, confirming that three bodies were recovered with another person injured. (PM News)