Nnewi (Anambra) – A filling station in Amuko, Nnewi in Anambra was on Monday gutted by fire, barely two weeks after a gas plant exploded, killing eight persons in the industrial town.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports, however, that no life was lost in Monday’s incident.
The fire reportedly started at about 6:20 a.m. when a truck was discharging fuel while the manager was also dispensing petrol to customers at the same time.
“As this was going on, one car drove into the service station but the car sparked-off fire as the driver made attempt to start his engine after buying fuel.
“Efforts put up by the manager and some security men manning the filling station could not stop the fire which later spread to the vehicle.
“The fire could have been controlled if fire fighters were around early,” an eyewitness said.
Two adjoining residential buildings were partially burnt while roadside retail traders who displayed their goods were also affected.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
The Sole Administrator of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, and a member of the state assembly, Mr Amala Anazodo, were among the early callers at the scene.
Confirming the report, the Acting Director in the state fire service, Mr Innocent Mbonu, said no life was lost but that properties worth millions of naira were damaged.
“The Nnewi fire truck is under repairs and so we had to move our trucks from Awka which caused the little delay,” Mbonu said.
Also contacted, the state police spokesman, Mr Ali Okechukwu, said that the command had commenced investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire. (NAN)