At least eight people have been killed in an explosion that ignited a fire at a petrol station in Lagos, Nigeria. 25 homes were razed in the inferno, and 16 shops and a primary school destroyed.

The BBC reports that the explosion occurred in the early hours of this morning in Baruwa, a residential area.

While the cause of the blast is still unclear, the State Emergency Management Agency said a gas leak had been identified and contained. Nevertheless, the explosion is speculated to have been the result of poorly maintained facilities and no efficient means of transporting fuel to petrol stations.

Meanwhile, the BBC reports that there has been a spate of explosions in Nigeria, Thursday’s being the latest. Two weeks ago, 30 people, including primary school children, had been killed when a truck carrying fuel exploded in Lokoja, in Kogi state. A day later a similar incident saw dozens injured in Lagos.

Umm Muhammed Umar