Fire Razes Commercial Building on Iweka Road, Onitsha, Causing Heavy Losses

 

Fire Guts Commercial Building on Iweka Road, Onitsha: Shops Destroyed, Investigation Underway

A devastating fire has destroyed parts of a two-storey commercial building on Iweka Road, near Ochanja Main Market, in the Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The fire broke out late on Tuesday evening, sending shockwaves through the local community and causing significant damage to several shops.

The Anambra State Fire Service was quickly alerted to the blaze, receiving a distress call at approximately 9:35 p.m. The fire team immediately sprang into action, racing to the scene to contain the fire that had already taken hold of the structure. According to the Fire Chief of the Anambra Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, firefighters worked tirelessly throughout the night to prevent the spread of the flames and ensure the safety of other nearby buildings.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chief Chiketa confirmed the incident, revealing that the fire affected four shops on the ground and first floors of the building, which were primarily used for the sale of furniture materials such as leather, foam, and other items. Fortunately, the quick response of the fire service helped prevent the spread of the fire to many other shops in the area, which was bustling with activity before the blaze erupted.

“We don’t know the exact cause of the fire at the moment,” Chiketa said, “but our teams responded swiftly, and we were able to prevent the fire from reaching other stores.” The fire service was on the scene for several hours, with crews withdrawing at around 3:05 a.m., after ensuring that the fire was fully under control and no longer a threat.

As dawn broke, residents and sympathizers gathered around the building, some attempting to salvage what remained of the goods in the affected shops. Many were seen hauling out damaged furniture, foam, and other valuable items from the shops, in an effort to recover anything that could still be of use.

While the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, investigations have already begun, and authorities are working to determine whether any foul play or negligence may have played a role in the incident. The possibility of an electrical fault or an issue with faulty wiring is also being considered, as such incidents have been known to spark similar fires in the past.

The fire has caused significant financial losses for the business owners whose shops were affected. The four businesses that were directly impacted by the blaze have suffered heavy damages to their inventory, with goods such as leather and foam materials destroyed in the inferno. It is yet to be confirmed if there were any casualties, although early reports suggest that no lives were lost in the fire.

Residents in the area have expressed concern over the vulnerability of commercial buildings in the region, calling for better fire safety measures and the installation of fire prevention systems to avoid future disasters. Several of the building's tenants have also raised alarms about the lack of proper fire exits and the accessibility of emergency services in the area.

As Anambra State’s Fire Service continues to investigate the cause of the blaze, the community remains on edge, worried about the risk of future fires. The fire service is urging business owners in the region to take fire safety precautions seriously and to ensure that their properties are equipped with the necessary fire safety tools, including fire extinguishers and properly maintained electrical systems, to prevent such tragic events from occurring again.

For now, local authorities are calling for calm as they work to assess the full extent of the damage caused by the fire and provide support to those affected. The devastating blaze is another stark reminder of the importance of being prepared for emergencies, especially in densely populated commercial areas like Iweka Road, which sees heavy foot traffic daily.

In the wake of this incident, the residents and business owners are hopeful that such a disaster will not repeat itself and that steps will be taken to improve fire safety measures in the area.