Effect 2002 Lagos armoury explosion







in central lagos there large canal, runs north south parallel isolo-oshodi expressway through centre of city. borders banana plantation, many refugees thought might safe falling shells , spreading fires. however, canal separated plantation city , covered water hyacinth , invisible in darkness. crowd surged towards plantation, hundreds of panicking people fell water. on bottom crushed yet more people falling waterway, , in struggling confusion, @ least 600 people killed, many of them children. many of these bodies drifted down canal, being found far ten kilometers explosion.


the affected areas of city burned through of night, explosions continuing boil out of wrecked armoury until afternoon of 28 january. emergency services woefully inadequate deal devastation, there not enough fire crews or water points available cope fire, consequently consumed large parts of city s northern suburbs. city hospitals utterly overwhelmed, many injured going hours without medical attention if did manage reach undamaged medical facility. military, too, having suffered loss of many of lagos-based personnel in initial explosion, not in position assume control of city , did not appear in large numbers until late on 28 january.


by evening of 28 january, of fires under control , people began returning city , attempting find loved ones lost in stampede. many of dead children, separated families in confusion , subsequently crushed in crowds filled streets , canal. on top of dead canal, several hundred people had died in city itself: killed falling munitions, trampled crowds, or trapped in fires.








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