By Jude Okenwa
A fire broke out on Tuesday night at Iweka Road, near Ochanja Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, destroying goods worth millions of naira.
The blaze started around 8:30 p.m., engulfing several shops and reducing merchandise to ashes.
Many traders had already closed for the day, leaving their stores unattended as the fire spread. It took some time before firefighters arrived to battle the flames.
The fire affected four shops in a two-story building, primarily dealing in furniture materials like leather and foam.
Fortunately, firefighters managed to stop the flames from spreading to other parts of the structure.
Fire crews remained on-site until 3:05 a.m. on Wednesday, March 26, ensuring the fire was completely extinguished. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but the Anambra State Fire Service confirmed receiving a distress call at about 9:40 p.m.
The state fire chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, said a team of firefighters and firefighting equipment were immediately deployed to contain the situation.
“At about 9:40 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, we received a distress call about a fire outbreak at Iweka Road, near Ochanja Market,” Chiketa stated. “Our firefighters acted swiftly, battling the flames and preventing further destruction.”
