Flames and Panic: Fire Guts Shops in Ibadan's Ire Akari Estate (#IbadanFire)
Ibadan, Nigeria - January 29, 2024 - A fire outbreak has caused panic and destruction in a community in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, on Monday evening. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, but initial reports suggest it may have originated from an electrical fault.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started around 7 pm at a shopping complex located along the Ologuneru-Eruwa Road. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, but some residents suspect that it may have been triggered by an electrical fault.
The fire quickly spread to other shops in the complex, destroying goods and properties worth millions of naira. Some of the items affected include electronics, furniture, clothes, foodstuffs, and cosmetics.
Emergency services responded swiftly, with firefighters battling the flames for several hours before bringing them under control. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. However, the fire's destructive path left numerous shops gutted, their contents reduced to ash and smoke.
The residents of the area tried to put out the fire with buckets of water and sand, but their efforts were futile. They also appealed to the state fire service to come to their rescue, but no response was received as of the time of filing this report.
Some of the shop owners lamented their losses, saying that they had invested their life savings in their businesses. They also accused the government of neglecting their plight, as they had no insurance or compensation for the disaster.
One of the shop owners, who identified himself as Mr. Adeyemi, said: "This is a terrible situation. I have lost everything I worked for in this fire. I don't know how I will start again. The government should please help us. We are suffering."
Another shop owner, Mrs. Oluwakemi, said: "I sell clothes and cosmetics here. I just stocked my shop with new goods last week. Now everything is gone. How will I feed my children? How will I pay my rent? This is too much for me to bear."
The fire outbreak has also disrupted the traffic flow in the area, as motorists and commuters have been forced to take alternative routes. Some of the residents have also expressed fear of possible looting and vandalism of the remaining shops by hoodlums.
The fire outbreak is one of the many incidents that have plagued the state in recent times. Last month, a gas explosion killed four people and injured several others at a gas plant in Ibadan. In December, a tanker explosion claimed the lives of two people and destroyed several vehicles along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Local residents recounted the harrowing scene, describing the frantic efforts to douse the flames and salvage belongings. The fire's impact has dealt a devastating blow to the livelihoods of affected shop owners, many of whom expressed their despair and uncertainty about the future.
Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage and providing support to those affected. An investigation into the fire's cause is ongoing.
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