Residents, customers and passers-by were thrown into panic late Saturday after a petroleum and cooking gas outlet, Oransonic Petrol Station, located along the Oba–Nnewi New Road in Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was engulfed by fire.
The filling station, situated a short distance from the popular prayer house, Nwereowe Healing Centre, reportedly went up in flames while a fuel-laden truck was being opened for discharge.
Eyewitnesses said the fire appeared to have started around the main underground petroleum discharge tank, sparking fears of a possible escalation. The development forced occupants of nearby buildings and motorists plying the busy road to flee to safety.
A video circulating on social media showed the station engulfed in flames as residents and motorists hurried away from the scene. A voice-over in the footage narrated how the blaze allegedly started during the discharge of fuel from the tanker.
It was gathered that the inferno affected the station building, four pumping units, adjoining shops and parts of the nearby prayer house.
Residents said that at the early stage of the incident, no firefighters were on ground, prompting staff of the station and some members of the community to make frantic efforts to contain the blaze before it spread further.
The incident caused heavy traffic along the Oba–Nnewi corridor as security concerns mounted over the possibility of the fire reaching other structures in the densely populated area.
As of the time of filing this report, there were no confirmed reports of casualties, while the extent of damage was still being assessed. Authorities were yet to issue an official statement on the cause of the fire.
