A commercial two-storey building located on Iweka Road, near Ochanja Main Market in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was consumed by fire on Tuesday evening.
Chukwudi Chiketa, the Chief of the Anambra Fire Service, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, stating that firefighters were alerted at about 9:35 p.m. and promptly arrived at the scene to combat the blaze.
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, the swift response of the fire service helped prevent further destruction.
Four shops within the building, stocked with furniture materials such as leather and foam, suffered damage, but firefighters managed to save many other shops from the flames.
Firefighting efforts continued through the night, with operations wrapping up at approximately 3:05 a.m.
Meanwhile, business owners and residents scrambled to salvage whatever items they could from the affected stores.