Dozens of families have been left homeless after a fire razed more than 40 batcher houses in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, destroying property worth millions of naira and displacing residents.
The fire, which occurred on Onukwuru Street, off Rumuolumeni Road (Iwofe Road), spread rapidly through the makeshift settlement, leaving many residents unable to salvage their belongings.
According to eyewitnesses on Tuesday, the fire broke out after a woman poured kerosene near another who was frying groundnuts, despite being warned against doing so.
Witnesses said the kerosene ignited, causing the flames to spread rapidly through the densely packed batcher houses.
Residents were said to have made frantic efforts to contain the inferno before emergency responders arrived, but the fire had already destroyed homes and valuables worth millions of naira, although no casualties were reported.
As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire had not been officially confirmed, while the Rivers State Government had yet to issue a statement on the incident or announce any relief measures for the affected families.
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