A tanker which attempted to off-load fuel, today, threw a filling station along Okpanam road by Macdon fast food, Asaba, Delta State capital, into full conflagration.
The inferno, according to eye witness accounts, caused chaos as people who trooped into Macdon fast food centre to celebrate the Christmas began running helter-skelter for safety.
One of the eye witnesses who simply identified himself as Mr. Ifeanyi said: “I suspect that somebody stored fuel or chemical. Otherwise, the fire would not have had such an impact.”
Sympathizers who thronged the scene of the incident to assist in putting off the fire described the disaster as a tragedy for the victims who had planned to celebrate the festive period with their families.
Although no live was lost in the fire, property worth millions of naira was destroyed before the arrival of officers of the state fire service.
One of the victims, Mr. Vincent, lamented his loss, saying: “as I talk to you, no single thing, not even a plank was spared. The things burnt are not less than N3 million. I am so surprised; I don’t really know the cause of the fire.”
The Asaba fire occurred today, a day after an explosion at a gas plant in Nnewi, Anambra State killed 100 people. The Christmas Eve explosion resulted in a fire, which razed several buildings, 60 cars and 50 motorcycles, leaving more than 20 other people with injuries. [myad]
