Petrol station razed as tanker bursts into flame in Umuahia

The Aka God petrol station located at Nkwoegwu town, Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, was on Sunday night, destroyed by fire outbreak.

The inferno, which started at about 6:30 pm, lasted for hours.

It was reportedly caused by an explosion from a loaded petrol tanker inside the facility.

Though no life was lost, the fire outbreak destroyed goods worth millions of naira in the petrol station and partially affected adjourning property.

Initial efforts made by youths of Nkwoegwu community and other sympathizers to quench the fire was not successful as balls of fire pumping up from the burning tanker overwhelmed their efforts.

But men of Abia State Fire Service who were alerted about fire outbreak,  arrived the scene at about 7: pm and deployed their equipment.

The efforts of the fire fighters eventually stopped the flame from consuming nearby private buildings, a medical facility and other structures.

Some indigenes of Nkwoegwu, Ohuhu, Umuahia North LGA, who witnessed the fire incident, thanked God that no life was lost, but regretted that the incident destroyed an investment located in their area.

Speaking on Sunday night, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Homeland Security, Fire and Emergency Services, Chukwunenye Alajemba explained that the swift intervention of his office prevented the fire from gutting nearby houses.