Obiaruku: With the onset of the dry season, fire havoc has set in with a devastating fang in the country, as part of the modern market in Obiaruku, Ukwuani LGA in Delta state, has been burnt.
The people of the administrative headquarters of the local government watched helplessly as part of the modern market was on fire for several hours, with late arrival of the fire services from the University town of Abraka.
Several stores containing goods bought for the Christmas and New Year sales were burnt down, with goods such as bags of rice, oils, clothing materials, and fuel amounting to several millions lost in the inferno.
According to those who spoke to our reporters, the fire started early in the evening of Saturday, 26 November 2016 lasting till 11 pm, despite efforts of sympathizers to put off the fire.
According to those who witnessed the fire, the incident started from a fuel dump in the market, which started as a smudge, but later increased, leading to explosion of several fuel containers in the fuel dump store.
As at Sunday morning, when Ndokwa Reporters visited the market, fire was still burning from one of the stores that were stocked with curtains.
Many of the people, who were interviewed, however called on the Delta State Government to provide a fire station in the local government, with fire engines, to reduce huge losses of lives and properties in the area.
Meanwhile, the member representing Ukwuani in the State House of Assembly, Hon Alphonsus Ojo during his visit to the market to sympathize with the victims assured them of government quick intervention.
Describing the incident, Hon Ojo called it a colossal lost, promising that he will use his office to bring relevant government agencies that are saddled with the responsibility of bringing succor to victims of the disaster in the state, by ensuring that relief materials are sent.
Hon Ojo used the visit to advice those having inflammable substances to handle them with care or seek alternative means of storing them, saying
“The fire outbreak wouldn’t have been disastrous, if not for the presence of the heavy kerosene tanks within the area.” He said.
