At least four persons have been reported dead and twelve others injured after an explosion rocked the chemical market in Onitsha Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire outbreak occurred at the Ogbo Ogwu market at around 12:45 pm on Tuesday and was caused by a chemical explosion.
The fire had destroyed goods and properties worth multi-million naira, and several shops were burnt.
The Director of the Anambra Fire Services, Martin Agbili, thereafter confirmed that 80 shops were affected in the chemical market fire explosion.
This is contained in a statement signed by Fire Services Director, Agbili on Wednesday in Onitsha.
He explained that the source of the fire actually came from the Science and Lab Line of Ogbo Ogwu Market, not the entire Ogbo Ogwu Market, Onitsha. He said:
”It is really a terrible situation but the fire is under control now. The vibration from the explosions caused the collapse of some market buildings.
“A lot of safety measures have been taken to protect the entire market. There are casualties but we can’t ascertain the actual number of death and the injured.”