Residents, motorists, and customers fled in panic on Saturday after a petrol station caught fire along the Oba–Nnewi New Road in Ojoto, located in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The incident occurred at Oransonic Petrol Station, where a fuel tanker was reportedly discharging petrol into underground storage tanks when the fire suddenly erupted.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze started during the process of opening the tanker for fuel discharge.
Within minutes, flames spread across parts of the filling station, raising fears of a possible explosion.
Shops, Pumping Units and Prayer House Affected
The fire caused significant damage to property within and around the premises. Reports indicate that:
Four fuel pumping units were destroyed
The main filling station building was affected
Several nearby shops were damaged
A nearby prayer centre, identified as Nwereowe Healing Centre, was also impacted
Videos shared on social media showed thick smoke and intense flames as residents hurriedly evacuated the area to avoid danger.
Eyewitness Account of the Fire Incident
A resident identified as Mama Uzor said the fire began shortly after the tanker arrived to supply fuel.
According to her, the tanker appeared to catch fire while the fuel discharge process was ongoing.
She said the flames quickly spread across the station, destroying equipment and structures within the premises.
Residents nearby reportedly rushed to assist the station staff in trying to control the fire before it escalated further.
Emergency Response and Casualty Status
At the early stage of the incident, firefighters had not yet arrived at the scene, forcing residents and workers to attempt to contain the blaze themselves.
As of the time of this report, no casualties had been officially confirmed.
Officials from the Anambra State Fire Service said they would investigate the incident and provide further updates after gathering details.
Authorities are expected to assess the full extent of the damage and determine the exact cause of the filling station fire.
