A fallen petrol tanker caught fire and razed a fuel station, 10 vehicles, 13 buildings and merchandise worth millions of naira at Upper New Market Road, Onitsha, Anambra on Wednesday February 15.
An eyewitness who narrated the night incident to newsmen said the fire started at about 8 p.m when a tank truck laden with petrol fell inside Mobil filling station by Dennis Memorial Grammer School (DMGS) roundabout.
The witness said the inferno was sparked as fuel trickle down a drainage system, burning parts of a popular building known as Kamo plaza where two banks operates, but a minimal damage was recorded.
There were no death toll but witnesses said casualties were taken to hospitals for treatment.
However, business and property owners who were directly affected lamented loose of goods worth millions. According Mrs Chinelo Onyeuna, a Manager of Bencash Investment Nig. Ltd., a company dealing in electronics and furniture, items worth N100 million was completely destroyed by the inferno.
She appealed to government to relocate all fuel station operating at residential and business areas and compensate those affected by the fire outbreak.
The Police Public Relations Officer,(PPRO) for the police command in the state, ASP Nkeiruka Nwode, confirmed that five houses,15 vehicles and five tricycles were wasted in the fire.
"We have five houses burnt, we have like 15 vehicles and five tricycles burnt. I thank God that no life was lost.
"And we only had casualties who were taken to the hospital as at the time we were here last night.
"I really want to advise the public that, they should help government for government to help them.Nwode added that some of the shanty houses around and attachments could have caused the fire outbreak.
Further inquiry led to the Executive Director of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Paul Odenigbo, who confirmed a higher lose of properties in the fire outbreak.
Odenigbo explained that the fire service responded early to the inferno, while other fire fighters from Asaba were also alerted to assist those from Onitsha and Okpoko.
"The incident happened about 8 p.m when the tanker coming from Awka road, Onitsha was negotiating the DMGS roundabout and lost control inside the Mobil filling station.
"One of the fuel dispensers later caught fire which spread down the road, destroying vehicles and buildings," he said.
He counted 13 houses, 10 vehicles, three tricycles and three filling stations: Mobil, MRS and Total filling stations were affected by the fire.
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