ABUJA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least four people have been confirmed killed so far following an explosion Thursday at a gas station in a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub, an official said.

Several others have been rescued by responders who are still at the site of the explosion in Baruwa, a densely populated area in the Ipaja axis of Lagos, said Nosa Okunbor, a spokesman for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.

The explosion was heard at 6 a.m. local time when most residents in the area were preparing to go to work. Many buildings were seen burning down as rescuers worked to save lives and property.

Okunbor told Xinhua that the exact cause of the explosion remained unknown. An investigation has been launched into the incident.

He said the gas station, owned by a private operator, was known for trading cooking gas. The official confirmed several adjoining buildings were burned as the fire raged on.

Local residents told Xinhua that they feared for heavy casualties. "This is so because the responders have only concentrated on quenching the fire at the gas station while other buildings burned. And there are people living in those adjoining buildings," said Kunle Aderinto, a resident. Enditem

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