Fire Guts Onitsha Market, Destroy Goods Worth Millions Of Naira

An inferno reportedly gutted a part of Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State on Wednesday, destroying valuable goods worth millions of Naira.

Reports made available to Naija News on Thursday revealed that the late-night fire destroyed shops on the third floor of the three-storey building located near the main market.

Though no casualty was recorded during the incident, one of the traders in the market told reporters that the fire had already ravaged people’s properties before the arrival of the state fire service.

The eyewitness claimed that the fire was caused by an electrical fault

She said, “We were calling the fire service and they have not responded. See how goods belonging to traders are being destroyed before their eyes.”

Confirming the incident, the state police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, said no life was lost in the incident.

He said, “Preliminary investigation shows that the fire was caused by an electric spark and was put out by combined efforts of the police and fire service team.

“The situation has been brought under control. The Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng advises the public to always take precautionary measures to avert such ugly incidents.”

Naija News reports that the development is coming a few days after over four hundred corpses were reportedly consumed by a bush fire at the mortuary section of the General Hospital, Onitsha, Anambra State.

The sad development has left many families in tears after beholding the remains of their loved ones being burnt to ashes.

Naija News learnt that the fire emanated from a burning bush behind the morgue and escalated into the hospital facility before it received attention.

According to reports, the inferno lasted about three hours on Saturday. Mortuary attendants are said to have responded to the fire by pouring water mixed with detergent to douse the flame but could not curtail the damage.

The PUNCH Metro reports that the hospital management later called the state fire service after the fire had escalated.