A major fire outbreak occurred on Sunday evening at Aka God Filling Station located in Nkwoegwu, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, causing panic among residents and business owners in the area.
The incident reportedly began while a fuel tanker was trying to offload petroleum products at the filling station.
The tanker driver attempted to avoid a motorcyclist who had obstructed the path, resulting in the tanker scraping against a metal barricade within the station premises.
The contact reportedly generated sparks which ignited the highly flammable environment, triggering the fire.
Speaking with THE WHISTLER, an eyewitness, Mr. Chimezie Eluwa, who was present at the scene, explained how the incident occurred.
“A fuel tanker came to offload fuel at the station. While maneuvering, the driver was blocked by a motorcycle rider. In the process of trying to avoid the motorcyclist, the tanker scratched a metal barricade used at the filling station.
“The friction produced sparks and the fire started almost immediately,” Eluwa recounted.
The swift intervention of firefighters helped prevent what could have become a much larger disaster.
Personnel from both the Abia State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service responded to the emergency approximately 20 minutes after receiving the distress call.
A resident, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbuehi who witnessed the emergency response commended the firefighters for their timely arrival despite the distance involved.
“The State and Federal Fire Services arrived about 20 minutes after they were alerted.
Considering the distance they had to travel, I believe they responded in good time and did an excellent job containing the situation,” Ogbuehi said.
The inferno affected parts of the nearby Enyinnaya Hospital, located adjacent to the filling station. However, firefighters successfully prevented the flames from spreading further to surrounding buildings and properties.
As of the time of filing this report, no casualties had been officially confirmed, while assessments of property damage were ongoing.
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