Some traders and residents are counting their losses after an early morning fire gutted a warehouse and a two-storey building containing textiles and other durable materials on Ifejika Street, near Main Market, Sokoto Road, Onitsha, Anambra State.
The fire, which reportedly started around 6:20am on Friday, raged for nearly six hours, prompting the swift deployment of state firefighters to the scene.
Eyewitnesses and victims said the fire originated from a warehouse before spreading to the two-storey residential building and its surroundings.
A victim, who gave her name as Cheta, said, “I learnt the fire started at about 5:30 am. We arrived this morning to see that our warehouse, where we stored our goods, has been reduced to rubble as a result of the fire incident. It is a huge loss that has sent shock waves through the entire business community in the area.
“The cause of the fire is still unknown. It also escalated into residential buildings. One of the owners of the affected buildings was seen lamenting and trying to commit suicide due to the heartbreak and frustration that resulted from the incident.
“The victim, was, however, helped out, comforted and consoled by sympathisers who crowded the scene, while wailings from him and other victims of the inferno were being heard all over the area.”
The Fire Chief of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, who confirmed the incident, said a distress call was received at around 6:20am, prompting the immediate deployment of firemen to the scene.
Chiketa said four firefighting trucks were deployed to the scene, with firemen making frantic efforts to contain the situation for several hours.
He said, “We received a distress at about 6:20am, and we immediately deployed four trucks with personnel to the scene of fire. The inferno started at a warehouse stocked with textile materials in the market, it later extended to some residential buildings in the area.
“Our firefighters battled for several hours, and they made frantic efforts to contain the situation completely. Although no life was lost, apart from goods and properties that were burnt. We called on residents and members of the public to remain calm as the firemen battle to quench the fire.”
He extended appreciation to the sister agencies and the public who are on the ground assisting the Firemen in containing the fire outbreak.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has sympathised with the victims of the market fire incident at a warehouse, saying that the incident could have been avoided if necessary precautionary measures had been adhered to.
“However, no life was lost, and the Command appreciates the support of the Fire Service agency and good-spirited individuals in making sure that the fire was put off.
“Also, Police have taken over the scene to investigate the cause of the fire and to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation to commit crimes in the area,” the CP added.
