Goods worth millions of naira have been destroyed by a fire outbreak that occurred at Umuocham Road, World Bank Housing Estate in Aba, Abia State on Thursday.
The fire which started in one section of the affected area, later spread to other shops, causing huge losses in affected shops.
Some of the victims of the fire said they had recently restocked their shops in preparation for Christmas seasonal sales, oblivious to the ill fate awaiting them.
Officials of Abia State Fire Service who arrived at the scene soon after being informed, were able to stop the fire from spreading to more residential and commercial.
Many of the affected traders wept uncontrollably, saying their investments had gone up in smoke.
Responding to questions by DAILY POST on Saturday, the Controller/Chief Fire Officer of Abia State Fire Service, Arua Nnanna said the Commander in charge of Abia confirmed the incident.
He said his men from the Aba area were immediately mobilized to the fire scene after phone calls were received by his office.
Nnanna said personnel were able to control the fire from spreading to other areas.
He, however, expressed sadness that properties were destroyed by the incident.
On the possible cause of the fire disaster, Arua said though a final report was not yet ready, unconfirmed information suggested an electrical power surge from a wood fabrication point.
“The rate of spread was a little bit massive but the quick intervention of the men of the Fire Service brought the fire under control. For now, we can not confirm what we are suspecting”, said Nnanna.
