Fire Razes Five Shops in Ebonyi, Four-Year-Old Dies, Four Hospitalised
A tragic fire outbreak has destroyed five shops in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, leaving a four-year-old child dead and four other persons hospitalised.
The incident occurred at Onuebonyi Junction in Abakaliki, where the fire reportedly engulfed several roadside shops and nearby structures. Residents said the blaze spread quickly before emergency responders could contain it.
Eyewitnesses said the victims were trapped during the inferno as traders and residents attempted to salvage goods and evacuate people from the burning structures. The four-year-old boy was said to have died in the incident, while four others sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
Local residents and shop owners reportedly tried to put out the fire before firefighters arrived, but the flames had already destroyed several shops and goods worth thousands of naira.
Authorities are yet to confirm the exact cause of the fire, though preliminary reports suggest it may have started from one of the affected shops before spreading rapidly to nearby structures. Investigations are expected to determine the origin of the blaze.
Meanwhile, residents of the area have expressed shock over the incident, calling for improved fire safety awareness and quicker emergency response to prevent similar tragedies in the future.