5 Fear Dead, Many Trapped As Fire Guts Multi-Billion Onitsha Chemical Market

• The popular chemical market in Onitsha was exhumed by fire on Tuesday afternoon, leaving 5 people feared dead
• Legit.ng learnt that this will be the first time the multi-billion naira market will be experiencing a fire disaster in a long time
• Many people were reportedly trapped in the fire incident that destroyed billions of properties on a fateful day

Onitsha, Anambra - About 5 traders and artisans feared dead as a strange fire gutted the popular Onitsha drug market, known as Ogbogu International Market, Bridge Head, Onitsha.

The inferno, which started at about 12noon on Tuesday, November 8, destroyed goods and buildings worth over N10 billion, according to a trader in the market, Amobi Okanume.

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Okanume, who said that the cause of the fire was unknown, added that it was the first time the market was experiencing a fire disaster, Legit.ng correspondent, Mokwugwo Solomon, reported from Anambra.

According to him, the fire caused much damage before the arrival of the firefighters from Onitsha and the neighbouring Asaba in Delta State.

Another trader in the market, identified as Ozigi, claimed that the fire started when an explosion occurred in one of the buildings at the Chemical Line of the Market.

Onitsha Fire outbreak chemical market Anambra Southeast

He said,

"I was in the market at about 11am, when an explosion occured, and every trader started running helter skelter, scampering for safety.

"The explosion sparked fire that affected over 70 shops, destroying goods worth several billions of naira. Apart from goods and property, about 5 persons - 4 men and a woman were trapped; and they are not yet rescued as we speak."

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As of the time our reporter arrived at the scene of the incident, many traders were stranded, some wailing, some evacuating their goods in trucks and vehicles.

Fire razes police plaza, properties worth millions turn to ashes in top Arewa state

Legit.ng earlier reported that fire razed a police plaza located on Jos Road, Lafia, Nasarawa state capital, on Tuesday morning.

Properties worth millions were destroyed by the fire incident as it started around 1am and could not be put out until 7am.

According to an eyewitness, about 7 shops in the plaza were affected, and properties belonging to tailors and solar engineers were destroyed.

Source: Legit.ng