A 95-year-old woman has lost her life after a fire outbreak razed a two-storey residential building at Fabikez Street, Omagba Phase 2, Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The inferno, whose cause is yet to be determined, reportedly started in one of the apartments at about 5:15 pm on Friday and quickly spread to adjoining flats, trapping the elderly woman for several hours before help arrived.
It was gathered that the fire caused extensive damage estimated at several millions of naira, destroying personal belongings and household items before officials of the Anambra State Fire Service brought the situation under control.
Eyewitnesses said the incident triggered panic among tenants and residents of the area, who made desperate efforts to contain the blaze before the arrival of firefighters.
A resident of the compound, identified simply as Uche, described the incident as terrifying.
“There was thick smoke and fire everywhere. People were shouting and running in different directions as the fire spread rapidly,” he said.
“Sadly, an elderly woman who was trapped inside did not survive.”
The landlord of the affected building could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.
Confirming the incident, the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, led by the state fire chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, said a distress call was received at about 5:08 pm, prompting the immediate deployment of firefighters and a fire truck to the scene.
According to Chiketa, firefighters battled the flames for several hours and successfully prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. The operation ended at about 7:45 pm.
“Unfortunately, a 95-year-old woman was trapped during the incident and one casualty was recorded,” he said, adding that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Anambra State Fire Service reiterated its commitment to the protection of lives and property and urged residents to remain fire-conscious, observe safety precautions, and promptly report fire emergencies to enable swift response.
The incident comes barely days after another fire outbreak destroyed dozens of apartments and shops in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state, though no life was lost in that incident.
