Goods and property worth millions of naira were on Friday destroyed following an explosion near a tank farm at the Abonema Wharf axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
Though the cause of the fire which led to the explosion could not be immediately ascertained, it was gathered that the area is notorious for illegal oil bunkering activities.
An eyewitness said the fire started from one of the makeshift structures and razed several shanties there.
“All the structures on the railway stretch were destroyed. It was a large fire. Thank Good it didn’t affect the tank farm,” he stated
A tick black smoke was seen billowing into the sky from the Azikiwe Road and the Mile one axis of the city, even as fire fighters were seen battling to out the inferno.
Confirming the incident, the state commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Onowu said the fire may have been caused by people cooking near the tank farm.
