A massive fire outbreak has engulfed sections of the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State, Nigeria, causing widespread panic among traders and residents.
The inferno reportedly started around 6:20 a.m. in one of the buildings and quickly spread to an adjacent structure, intensifying the destruction. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.
Eyewitnesses, traders, and passersby scrambled to salvage goods and properties while emergency responders worked to contain the blaze.
Confirming the incident, Chukwudi Chiketa, Head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, assured the public that firefighters were actively battling the flames.
“Anambra State Fire Service is currently on intervention at the scene of the fire outbreak at Ifejika Street, by Sokoto Road, Onitsha,” he stated.
Chiketa added that the distress call was received at 6:20 a.m., prompting an immediate deployment of firefighters to the location.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm, emphasizing that efforts are ongoing to bring the situation under control.
As of the time of reporting, the extent of the damage and any possible casualties have yet to be confirmed.
