Emergency teams have extinguished the cargo ship fire at Apapa Port. No casualties were recorded as responders acted swiftly to prevent disaster
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]argo ship fire Apapa Port was swiftly contained by emergency services after a blaze erupted on board the CHANG MIN vessel at one of the terminals on Friday.
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The fire, which began during unloading operations, affected a section of the ship’s cargo hold. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Authority confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday. Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, noted that the ship was carrying a combination of compressed natural gas trucks, wooden materials, tyres, and other flammable goods.
Responders from the LASEMA Response Team in Onipanu, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Nigerian Ports Authority Fire Unit arrived promptly at the scene. Their coordinated effort prevented the fire from escalating.
Initial findings revealed that the fire was first observed at the point of unloading. While the exact cause remains unknown, emergency responders acted quickly to execute a fire control plan that ensured safety and a successful outcome.
Emergency teams shut down the affected compartment to cut off oxygen, then began a dampening process before reopening the cargo hold to fully engage the fire.
Their goal was to prevent a secondary incident while ensuring the safety of all personnel involved.
The crew on board was debriefed to assist with real-time decisions during the operation. Every seafarer was accounted for, and no injuries were recorded.
Responders used the ship’s layout to accurately locate the origin of the fire and implement the safest extinguishing approach.
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The fire has now been completely extinguished and recovery efforts have concluded. The rapid activation of Lagos State’s Emergency Response Plan played a vital role in avoiding what could have become a maritime tragedy.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
