FIRE IN PORT HARCOURT: Mile One Market In Flames, Traders Devastated, Millions Of Naira Lost (PHOTOS)

The famous Mile One Market in Mile One Diobu,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was razed by fire in
the morning, following a fire outbreak which
started in the early hours of today, Tuesday,
December 17.
Some of the eyewitnesses said the fire may have
started around 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.
By 3:40 a.m., the rampaging fire had mercilessly
gutted a large portion of the market.
Some firefighters from the Rivers State Fire
Service were present as at press time. The fire
seems to have surpassed their skill and
equipment as it, with multiple explosions,
gradually and steadily kept moving to other
parts of the market and buildings along the
Ikwerre road.
Hundreds of traders, sympathizers and
onlookers flooded the area. Some traders were
rushed to the hospital for medical attention after
discovering that their shops and goods have
been destroyed.
To worsen the situation, a driver who stole
someone's car loaded with goods while trying to
escape from the police patrol van ran over a
boy, injuring him badly.
Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in
the accident.
Some residents of the area report gunshots and
siren sounds, others say there were explosion
sounds as cartons of insecticidesand perfumes
were popping due to intense heat.