Properties and goods valued at millions several millions of naira have been lost to the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Millers Waterslide, Warri, Delta State.
The inferno destroyed properties, business centres and shops as no one could rescue his/her belongings from the fire disaster which lasted for several hours.
Trouble started when a resident who was cooking with the Camp Gas, left to accomplish a task after he forgot that he was cooking, leading to an explosion at the Custom Barracks area.
The fire quickly spread to the wooden house structure and rapidly to the neighborhood.
According to one of the victims of the unfortunate incident, Mr. Philip Onaruowho, owner of a chemist shop in the Customs Barrack area,
“I was just done with the treatment of a patient when we heard a loud explosion. The next thing we saw was a ravaging ball of fire.
“At that point I was outside my shop, forcing my way into the shop while the smoke was everywhere. I could only get my phone out, my keys and everything else got burnt.”
Another eye witness, who simply identified himself as Duke, said “it was like a dream. The fire spread fast because of the fuel product all around this place. The fire escalated faster because of the petrol business taking place here. This is not the first or second time that we are experiencing incidents like this. When we complain, nothing was done.”
It was said that the fire had spread thereafter to the Miller Waterside, opposite Tunde office by the Marine Police.
“Even with the presence of fire fighter trucks, the fire could not be doused. We are using this sad and unfortunate incident to call on the state government to come to our aid and help us get through this. Most of us have all our livelihood gone in this inferno,” the concerned residents stated.
