Explosion rocks Nigeria warehouse razing nine buildings
Lagos, 26 Dec - (ANA)  - An explosion in a warehouse has sparked a major fire in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital with  the ensuing blaze spreading up to nine buildings. The blast reportedly shook windows of homes miles away and a thick cloud of smoke could be seen over the city. Several people have been injured but it remains unclear if there were any fatalities.
Thousands of people in the area gathered to watch, as the fire destroyed neighbouring buildings. Some residents jumped out of windows in panic as fireworks exploded long after the initial blaze, AFP news agency reported. The Nigerian Red Cross said it had treated at least 30 people. correspondents say firefighters took about an hour to reach the scene because of the huge crowds. Some residents grabbed hoses from fire engines and tried to fight the blaze themselves, but the Associated Press reports that the engines quickly ran out of water. Police and security officials recovered mortar-like fireworks and many empty firework shells from the scene, the agency said. (ANA)

FA/ANA/26 December 2012--------