ABUJA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian emergency and firefighting officials on Monday said an investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of a morning gas explosion which killed two and injured seven others in the main city of Lagos.

The fire incident in Magodo area of Lagos was brought under control by firefighters after three hours.

It gutted the Second Coming Gas Company, a private firm, which handles the supply of gas to people in the Lagos metropolis.

Head of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency Shina Tiamiyu confirmed to reporters that the charred remains of two persons who died in the fire and seven others, who had different degrees of burns, had been deposited at a local hospital.

Lagos police chief Edgal Imohimi told Xinhua a preliminary investigation showed that the explosion was caused by a car exhaust which ignited the gas pipe and spread.

The location of the gas facility was not good for the safety of residents of the neighborhood, Imohimi said.

"I have asked them to evacuate all the tanks so as to avoid a second explosion," he added.