A massive fire outbreak on Saturday morning occurred at the popular SPAR shopping mall in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, leaving parts of the multimillion naira facility in flames
Our Correspondent, reports that the fire was still burning fiercely, with thick smoke coming from the premises.
The situation became particularly alarming as sounds suspected to be explosions from gas cylinders and other electronic appliances were heard from within the building.
Concerned individuals at the scene were seen making efforts to contain the inferno and prevent the flames from spreading further.
However, the late arrival of firefighters raised concerns among residents and witnesses at the scene, who expressed frustration over the delay in responding to the emergency.
As of the time of filing this report , the fire was yet to be brought under control, while efforts continued to put out the flames.
The cause of the fire and the extent of damage to property and goods had yet to be officially ascertained as of press time.
In another development, a fire incident destroyed a building at 21 Atamunu Street, Calabar South Local Government Area, destroying household belongings and other personal property.
Although no lives were lost, the affected families reportedly suffered significant material losses, leaving them in need of assistance to restore their basic living conditions.
Although the cause of the fire has yet to be established, preliminary findings indicate that the fire completely razed the affected building.
Following the incident, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), have conducted a joint damage and needs assessment of the affected building.
Other stakeholders on the assessment team, included the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The team visited the affected area to assess the extent of the damage, document the losses suffered by the affected households and engage residents on the impact of the incident on their homes and personal belongings.
Reacting to the incident, the Director-General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, sympathised with the affected families, describing the incident as unfortunate and assuring them of the Agency’s concern over their plight.
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Nyong said CR-SEMA would continue to work with relevant government institutions and humanitarian partners to identify the immediate and long-term needs of the affected households and provide appropriate support within available resources.
He urged the affected residents to remain calm as the response process continues, assuring them that their situation would not be overlooked.
The director-general also emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in emergency response, noting that fire outbreaks and other disasters can have devastating consequences for families whose homes and belongings are affected.
The joint assessment is part of efforts by CR-SEMA and its partners to coordinate timely responses to emergencies and provide assistance to communities and households affected by disasters across the state.
