A massive fire outbreak has destroyed goods and properties worth millions of naira at the Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The inferno, which occurred on Thursday evening, left traders and shoppers in a state of despair.
The FCT Fire Service, with assistance from the Federal Fire Service and Julius Berger Fire Service, responded to the incident but faced challenges accessing the scene due to the large crowd and lack of access roads. Soldiers were deployed to maintain order and ensure safety.
Preliminary investigations suggest an electrical surge may have caused the fire, which quickly spread and engulfed parts of the market. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but it is clear that the fire has had a significant impact on the community.
Traders who lost their wares in the fire were seen wailing uncontrollably, with one trader estimating her losses at over ₦10 million. The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has underscored the importance of access roads in firefighting operations, noting that the lack of access delayed the response to the fire.
No lives were lost in the incident, but goods worth millions of naira were destroyed. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
