ENUGU TIMBER MARKET FIRE- TRADERS STILL COUNTING THEIR LOSSES

Traders in Lines 2, 3 and 4 of Timber Market Maryland, Enugu whose shops were gutted by fire, have appealed for urgent government intervention as the inferno destroying goods and equipment worth millions of naira.

This is to help them return to business and save their families from hunger.

When Radio Nigeria visited the scene of the incident, burnt machines were seen at different points and people gathering the debris.

Narrating the incident, the Chief Security Officer of the market, Mr. Michael Ewa, who said the outbreak started at about 7:30pm, explained that the fire emanated from a freezer in a shop where drinks were sold.

One of the victims of the incident, Mr. Samuel Eze, who said he lost his machines in the inferno suggested siting of a functional fire service in the market to forestall further occurrence.

The secretary of the market union, Mr. Gilbert Nweke, also a victim of the incident pointed out that the state fire service could not be reached when the fire started.

Mr. Nweke expressed joy with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for visiting the scene and called on the government to help the union in completing the demarcation of the market segment which he said would prevent spreading of fire from one segment to the other.

Radio Nigeria observed some women packing charcoal that was produced from the fire outbreak.

The affected lines were the places where the major machines used in timber production were installed.

EZINWANNE OKWUOLISA