Fire Razes 200 Homes In Diobu

No fewer than 200 makeshift rooms at Elechi Beach waterfront in Mile 1, Diobu axis of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area were, last Saturday, razed by fire.
The Tide investigations reveal that the fire may have been sparked by faulty electric connection.
The fire raged till the evening as residents resort to self-help to put out the fire before the fire service could arrive.
Some affected residents, said the fire started from a spark of illegal electricity connection, adding that those responsible were always in the habit of tempering with electricity connections in the area.
Other sources attributed the fire to storage of petroleum products in the neighbourhood majorly built with woods and corrugated iron sheets.
Many of the residents lost their properties and goods, though no human life was lost in the inferno.
The fire outbreak at Elechi Beach waterfront makes it the fourth one within one week in the state as residents now rendered homeless in the area stand at about 300.
It would be recalled that the first fire outbreak occurred at Isiokpo Street, D/Line, the second at an uncompleted building at Rumuokoro area, while the third, Nembe/Bille Jetty waterfront, all reportedly attributed to illegal petroleum products popularly called “Kpofire”.

By: Kevin Nengia & Excellent Omehoma