Millions of naira worth of goods and properties were lost last Sunday after fire from an nearby dump site razed the Rumuosi furniture/foam market, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.
The fire which allegedly began from the dump site, containing sawdust from the timber sheds, at about 9am on Sunday, could not be brought under control, as it escalated to the furniture and mattress sheds in the market.
An eye witness, Mrs Matilda Chigozie, who spoke to The Tide on the incident, narrated that the fire was first noticed on the 31st December (new year eve), but was put off.
She explained that she suspected that the fire was not completely put out on that new year eve, but could be burning underneath, which she said was very common with the sawdust fire.
“I am really shocked at what I am seeing, my brother’s shop here is completely burnt down, and nothing was removed, and everything has been destroyed by fire before we got down here.
“One of the shop owners who arrived a bit earlier, and was trying to recover some of his goods, had a very serious injury along the line, as he was trying to lift pack of glasses.
“The glasses fell on him, leaving severe cuts on him, and he has been rushed to the hospital, and the injury is very serious, and only God will make him survive it, and I can say that this fire is not just ordinary.
“Look at how people’s sweat and hard earned money are just wasted in a twiickle of eyes. It is so sad! Who are you going to blame or hold responsible for this”? she queried.
At the time of visit to the scene, the fire had already been put out by men of the Fire Service, suspected to be from one of the multinational companies in Port Harcourt.
The incident resulted to a serious traffic jam in the area for some hours, as one lane of the express road was closed, leaving motorists and trucks with only one way to use within the period.

By: Corlins Walter