The Anambra State Police Command mentioned it had begun an investigation into the reason for the hearth incident that occurred at Chukwunonso Road alongside Obodoukwu Street, close to Reduction Market, Okpoko in Ogbaru Native Authorities Space of the state.
The spokesman for the command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, on Monday, mentioned the investigation was to avert future occurrences.
He mentioned, “We are going to probe the circumstances that led to the hearth incident. That is wanted to avert a recurrence in future.”
Items and properties estimated to be value a number of thousands and thousands of naira had been destroyed when a fireplace burnt some yet-to-be-disclosed variety of outlets situated alongside the Obodoukwu Street, close to the reduction Market, Okpoko, in Ogbaru Native Authorities Space of Anambra State.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene on Monday, gathered that the hearth, which occurred late on Sunday, triggered chaos and panic across the neighborhood of the market inflicting merchants and residents to wrestle to salvage a few of their belongings amid heavy crowded scene.
The precise explanation for the hearth had but to be ascertained, but it surely was gathered {that a} part of some outlets with numerous objects and supplies was destroyed by the inferno.
A dealer within the space who recognized himself merely as Ndubuisi mentioned the hearth emanated from one of many outlets with residents seeing thick flames because it unfold to others earlier than the boys of the state fireplace service arrived on the scene to place out the hearth.
He mentioned the firefighters battled for a number of hours to place off the hearth and prevented it from escalating to different outlets, together with neighbouring constructions.
“The reason for the hearth remains to be unknown, however we out of the blue noticed a thick smoke popping out from one of many outlets within the constructing and earlier than we knew what was occurring, it began growing quick.
“The few merchants that had been round and a few residents and different passers-by mobilised to quench the hearth earlier than firefighters arrived. Some others struggled to salvage a few of their belongings to keep away from dropping every part to the hearth.
“We noticed thick smoke popping out round a bit of the outlets and we alerted these affected. A few of them arrived promptly on the scene, however couldn’t save a lot of their items because the outlets had been already on fireplace earlier than the firefighters got here.
“A number of the victims couldn’t take something out of their outlets. I can say that items value thousands and thousands of naira had been misplaced to the hearth. We can’t say what triggered the hearth, however we pray God involves their support.”
One of many merchants, merely generally known as Uche, mentioned, “Most individuals didn’t open for enterprise because it was a Sunday. Nobody is aware of the reason for the hearth, however we suspect it could possibly be an explosion as a result of the climate has been actually sizzling today.
“After we seen the thick smoke popping out from a bit of a few of the outlets, as the hearth raged, we couldn’t attain out to fireplace extinguishers. Residents and passers-by battled to quench the hearth earlier than the firefighters got here. The law enforcement officials had been on the bottom too to forestall looting.”
Efforts to talk to a few of the market leaders on the event proved abortive as they refused to talk to the media.
The police command spokesman, Ikenga, who reacted to the incident mentioned, “The law enforcement officials have cordoned off the scene of the incident to forestall hoodlums from taking undue benefit of the state of affairs to loot properties and items of people.
“In the meantime, the swift response of the Hearth Service Operatives introduced the state of affairs underneath management. The command has nevertheless begun an investigation into the reason for the hearth incident to avert future occurrences. Additional growth shall be communicated, please.”
Additionally, the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Hearth Service, led by the state Hearth Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Monday.
He added that two fireplace vehicles from Okpoko Hearth Station and Principal Market Hearth Station and different firefighting tools had been mobilised to the scene, to include the hearth.
“At about 4:19 pm on Sunday, November 24, 2024, the Anambra State Hearth Service obtained a misery name of a hearth outbreak at 276 Obodoukwu Street, alongside the Reduction Market, Okpoko, in Ogbaru LGA of the state.
“Instantly we deployed our firemen with two fireplace vehicles from Okpoko Hearth Station and Principal Market Hearth Station and different firefighting tools to the scene, they fought and had been in a position to include the hearth and stop it from additional escalation.
“The hearth affected a number of outlets. The reason for the hearth outbreak remains to be unknown. No life was misplaced. The firemen left the scene at about 7:39 pm on the identical day.
“The general public is suggested to stay fireplace aware and keep protected,” it said.
