LAGOS JUNE 25TH (URHOBOTODAY)-A middle-aged woman has been reportedly burnt to death following a fire outbreak, which gutted two buildings and several stores in Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, also left several persons injured, who are now battling for survival at the Eku Baptist Government Hospital.
Sources told Southern City News that properties worth over N50m were destroyed in the inferno.
It was learnt that the fire broke out from the apartment housing the deceased woman, identified as Caroline Ugor, who was said to be a kerosene trader.
The deceased, according to sources, hailed from the Isoko area of the state, while her only child is battling for life as she sustained severe fire burns during the incident.
Narrating how the incident happened, a source, who identified herself simply as Elohor, said, “The victim, who lost her life to the inferno, was a dealer in adulterated kerosene.
“Early on Saturday, one of her friends came to seek her help while she was preparing for the market, which happened to be the Eku Market Day.
“During their discussion, she noticed that one of kegs filled with kerosene in her store was leaking and she immediately called her daughter to bring nylon to block the leakage but the child while coming with the nylon, brought a lantern, which resulted in the inferno.
“Everything in one of the buildings was destroyed before help could come. Several persons were injured. Sister Caroline was trapped in the fire and was burnt to death in the process. Her only child is also battling for life in hospital.”
It was further learnt that the member representing Ethiope East Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Mr Innocent Anidi, who rushed to the scene on Saturday, described the incident as horrible.
Commiserating with the victims of the incident, Anidi warned residents and traders against buying and selling adulterated petroleum products.
The lawmaker promised to draw the attention of the state government to the plight of the victims, whose properties were destroyed by the fire.
A senior police officer from the community confirmed the incident to our correspondent and added that the corpse of the deceased had been deposited in the morgue of the Eku Baptist Government Hospital.
Efforts to get a confirmation from the Delta State Police Command on the incident proved abortive as repeated calls to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, and the spokesperson, Onome Onowakpoyeya, rang out.
Also, an SMS sent to Onowakpoyeya was not replied as of the time of sending this report.
Punch