Delta State: Cigarette stub sparks fire, destroys 15 speedboats

Post created on 11:52 am

No fewer than 15 speedboats, goods and property worth millions of naira were on Sunday gutted by fire, which razed a section of the Miller Waterside along the NPA Road in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that the inferno commenced from a nearby filling station around 11pm when shop owners had already locked up and gone home, thus hindering timely salvaging efforts.

It was also learnt that much damage had already been done before firefighters arrived at the scene.

Sources attributed the cause of the fire to a cigarette stub carelessly thrown away near the filling station.

Speaking with journalists over the incident, a resident of the area, who identified herself simply as Mine, said they suddenly heard an explosion around 11pm and before they could rush out, the fire had engulfed the entire area.

Many traders, who were affected by the inferno, were seen counting their losses when our correspondent visited the scene on Monday.

The Chairman of the Boat Owners Union at the Miller Jetty, Mr Stillbert, described the incident as unfortunate and devastating, just as he pleaded with Delta State Government to be sympathetic with the victims by mitigating their losses.

The Chairman, Warri South Local Government Council, Dr Michael Tidi, appealed to residents to be extra cautious this dry season to avoid fire incidents.

Making this appeal after assessing the level of damage caused by the inferno, the council chairman said though the cause of the fire had not been ascertained, investigation was ongoing to unravel the cause of the incident.

[THE PUNCH]