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Tragedy struck at Onuebonyi Junction in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, as a devastating fire outbreak claimed the life of a four-year-old boy, identified as Osinachi, and left four others hospitalized.
The incident, which occurred in an Abakaliki suburb, was reportedly triggered by a cooking gas explosion in one of the shops at the busy junction.
An eyewitness, Mr Oku Chinagorom, told DAILY POST on Thursday that the fire started when a gas cylinder exploded and spread rapidly to nearby goods within the shop.
According to him, the shop owner, popularly known as Mama Osi, was in the shop while her husband had traveled to their Okposi village a day before the incident occurred.
However, in an attempt to rescue her four children who were inside at the time, she sustained severe burns in the process.
Tragically, one of the children who died in the inferno was burnt beyond recognition.
He explained that neighbours swiftly intervened and eventually put out the fire, while four injured victims were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention, with five stores fully burnt down along with their goods and other items.
One of the affected shop owners, Mrs. Nnenna Elom, lamented that the incident occurred shortly after she left her shop to prepare for a burial ceremony.
She said the fire destroyed her goods, including drums of oil and other items worth over ₦1 million.
Mrs. Elom further disclosed that she purchased most of the goods on credit and expressed deep distress over how to repay her suppliers, noting that goods worth over ₦700,000, which she had collected earlier that morning, were completely consumed by the inferno.
She appealed to the Ebonyi State Government and well-meaning individuals for assistance.
Another shop owner, Mr. David Akam, an oil dealer, said the fire spread from a neighbouring shop and engulfed five shops in total.
He added that he managed to rescue the severely affected neighbour whose wrapper had caught fire, though she sustained serious injuries.
Mr. Akam estimated that goods worth over ₦20 million were lost in the blaze.
Confirming the incident, the Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (EBSEMA), Mr. Clement Ovuoba, said the agency had deployed a response team to the scene to assess the damage and document the losses.
He described the incident as unfortunate and assured victims that the matter would be reported to the appropriate authorities to facilitate possible government intervention aimed at cushioning the effects of the tragedy.
As of the time of filing this report, one child had been confirmed dead, while four other victims were receiving treatment in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital.
Fire razes five shops in Ebonyi, four-year-old dies, four hospitalized
