A fire outbreak has destroyed a building at 21 Atamunu Street, Calabar, Cross River State, leaving affected families with significant losses after household belongings and other valuables were razed.
The incident prompted a joint Damage and Needs Assessment by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) and other relevant stakeholders.
The assessment team comprised officials from NEMA, CR-SEMA, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Department of State Services.
The team visited the affected premises to assess the extent of the damage and engage the residents on the impact of the fire on their homes and personal belongings.
Preliminary findings showed that the fire completely destroyed the affected building, including household items and other personal property.
Although the cause of the fire had yet to be established, no life was lost in the incident.
However, the affected families suffered significant losses and were left in need of support to restore their basic living conditions.
Reacting to the incident on Friday, the Director-General of CR-SEMA, Efa Nyong, sympathised with the affected families, describing the fire outbreak as unfortunate.
Nyong said the agency was concerned about the situation of the affected families and would continue to work with relevant government institutions and humanitarian partners to identify their needs.
He added that the agency would provide appropriate support to the affected households within available resources.
The CR-SEMA boss urged the affected residents to remain calm as the response process continued, assuring them that their situation would not be overlooked.
Nyong also stressed the importance of collective responsibility in responding to emergencies, noting that fire outbreaks could have significant consequences for families whose homes and belongings were destroyed.
He said CR-SEMA would continue to coordinate with relevant agencies and humanitarian partners in responding to emergencies and supporting communities affected by disasters across Cross River State.