Four die as fire razes over 100 makeshift buildings

An early morning fire outbreak in Slaughter at Ngboshimili in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, claimed four lives and destroyed more than 100 makeshift buildings popularly known as batcha – structures erected with mostly used woods – where some residents of Port Harcourt use for accommodation. The four victims were burnt beyond recognition, but one of them was rushed to the hospital, where he later gave up the ghost.
Witnesses said they were family members and that the fire started from their room. They explained that the fire started in the room of one Ada, whose mother came from Imo State on a visit, along with a three-year-old boy. Ada, her mother and her daughter, died on the spot, while her nephew died at the hospital.
A witness said that the fire might have been started by a candle that was found in Ada’s room and that because one of Ada’s neighbors sells kerosene, the whole place was on fire. Another witness, Ifeanyi, said that men of the fire service arrived the scene very late.
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