Cars Burnt to Rot, As Fire Razes Another Fuel Station in Anambra

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

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Barely two weeks after tragic fire outbreak hit and razed two filing stations in Onitsha, Anambra State, another destructive fire outbreak has gutted another filling station in Awka, the capital city of the state.

The fire broke out at Mobil Fuel Station, located at the popular Unizik Junction along Enugu—Onitsha Expressway, on Thursday morning before it swiftly spread to other nearby shops and plazas.

According to eyewitnesses, the inferno started when a petrol tanker was discharging petrol at the spacious fuel station, where other vehicles were also on queue, waiting to be attended to, before the outbreak.

The petrol tanker, few other vehicles at the station and some motorcycles were all burnt to rot by the inferno. 

Traders and shop owners at St. Frances Plaza and other nearby plazas were seen hurrying up and down to evacuate their stocks with the help of simpathiziers, as the fire escalated close to their shops and goods. Parts of the shops were also affected by the fire.

The men and officers of the Anambra State Fire Service were seen battling the fire, even though unavailability of water somewhat frustrated their efforts and early intervention

Other law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Police and others were also on ground to control human and vehicular movements, and to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the ugly situation to loot victims' stocks.

As at the press time, no life was lost; and the total extent of damages caused by the fire is yet to be ascertained.