Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt
Barely 24 hours after fire gutted over N100 milliion worth of Petroleum products and Boats in Woji Dockyard in Port Harcourt, about goods worth millions of Naira in Seven lock up shops were in the early hours of today, Friday razed by fire in Eliohwani, suburb of Port Harcourt.
Traders who were seeing counting their loses attributed the fire to power surge. Uchenna Emenike, one of the traders and shop owner narrated:”The fire started from one of the shops when there was sudden power supply from the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC. There was a spark, then explosion and fire.”
He said that after the explosion within seconds fire had enveloped the store and spread to other shops. He said traders battled the fire as they also tried to salvage their goods in rampaging inferno but only negligible worth were saved. No lives were lost.
According to other Eyewitnesses, calls were made to the state fire services oil companies but before they could arrive the scene Seven stores the goods in them were up in flames.
They appealed for help from government and public spirited organizations to cushion their trauma.
In a related development, the Rivers state government has said the an official investigation would be carried out to ascertain the cause of the Woji Dockyard fire yesterday that burnt vessels and goods worth more than N100 million.
The Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Chinyere Igwe, says his ministry will investigate the inferno in Woji creek area of Port Harcourt.
Igwe who spoke at the scene of fire said it was difficult to know the exact cause of the disaster. But assured that if any of the safety laws were breached by individuals or appropriate sanctions will be meted out accordingly.