Eighteen people were rescued after a fire broke out at the old Terminal 1 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday.

This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the Controller General of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, who noted that the fire was fully extinguished at 23:24 hours.

Adeseye said a distress call at 15:52 hours on Monday, firefighters from Isolo, Bolade, Ikeja, and Alausa HQ stations, alongside federal and state emergency responders coordinated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria , were promptly deployed.

The LSFRS Controller General, Margaret Adeseye, said the blaze started in the IT Server Room within the E-Wing of the Departure Lounge, affecting the adjoining Radio Communication Room. She said:

“Through coordinated multi-agency efforts, the fire was successfully confined, preventing further spread to other sections of the building under reconstruction, which initially proved difficult due to inaccessibility to the seat of the fire given the nature of the structure.”

All 12 personnel in the Control Tower were safely rescued, while six others were rescued with injuries but are in stable condition.

“Notably, all 12 personnel within the Control Tower were safely rescued, while six others were rescued with injuries but in stable condition from other sections of the building,” the statement read.

She confirmed that ongoing investigations into the cause of the fire would be disclosed in a subsequent report.

PUNCH Online had reported that the blaze disrupted flight operations, stranded passengers, and led to the diversion of some international flights.

Thick smoke was seen billowing from the old terminal as firefighters battled the fire for several hours.

The Airport Police Command, Lagos, in a Tuesday statement issued by Mohammed Adeola, Public Relations Officer, confirmed the fire was extinguished and normalcy restored.

Adeola also confirmed that flight operations had resumed that the flight operations, which were temporarily disrupted, have fully resumed.

He said that activities have now been relocated to the New Terminal, while the Old Terminal 1 building remains closed to all operations and access pending further assessment and clearance. (PUNCH)