Several Die in Factory Fire in Anambra

Residents of Nnewi, an industrial hub in Anambra State, were thrown into mourning on Christmas eve when a major gas explosion at a factory owned by Chikason Group claimed several lives and left many injured.


The explosion resulted in a fire that raged for more than three hours and affected buildings nearby.
An eyewitness told THISDAY that the explosion suspected to have been caused by a gas cylinder inside the factory, resulted in a massive inferno.

Although there was no state government confirmation of the casualties, one source said no fewer than 20 corpses were evacuated from the debris caused by the explosion.


However, a Red Cross official, who did not want to be named, said the explosion killed about six persons on the spot.
He also said that the timely intervention of the fire service prevented the fire from spreading, adding that the dead had been deposited at a morgue in Nnewi while the injured were rushed to different hospitals.


Also, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Hosea Karma gave the casualty figure as six dead and six injured.
According to him, four of the injured who had serious injuries were taken to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital.
The police said the dead were customers and no employee of the firm died.


The state governor, Chief Willie Obiano visited the scene of the incident and commiserated with the people of Nnewi, saying that it was a critical period to have casualties.


He said he had spoken with Mr. Chika Okafor, owner of the company, promising that the state will make efforts to station special fire trucks at strategic places in Nnewi to improve the responsiveness of the fire service in the area.