By Goodluck Ikiebe in Abuja.
A cell phone used by a Kerosene seller caused fire outbreak at Kubwa main market in Abuja on Friday night,according to eyewitness.
An eye witness, who survived the disaster and prefer veiling of identity,our correspondent that several shops and people were burnt to death, including the kerosene seller.
According to him, “The fire was not caused by transformer explosion as being speculated but phone. The woman selling the kerosene was using her cell phone’s torchlight to sell the product when the explosion occured.
“I believe that the explosion was due to the electromagnetic waves of the phone. The explosion threw the kerosene tank from the ground to the roof of the plaza, from where the fire started.
“While some people believed that it was a bomb, other said it was transformer explosion. But, I was there; and I saw it. The incident was caused by phone.
“So many people were burnt including the woman selling the Kerosene; some children were among those burnt beyond recognition.
“Some shops were also burnt down.”
When asked about efforts of fire service, the eyewitness said: “The fire fighters came very late, but boys in the area were able to put the fire under control.”
Another eyewitness, Cecilia Ajegba, said the explosion was due to an electricity transformer close to the Kerosene tank.
She said: “The fire was caused by an explosion from an electricity transformer closed to the market. The explosion affected a kerosene tank close by, and this led to the fire outbreak.
“When the explosion happened, the fire spread and ignited some people around the market.
“Security agents did not allow us to go close as they condoned off the place, but those close said about five people were killed.” Rescue operation is ongoing at the time of filing in this report.
The Reporters recalls that the market was constructed about four years ago.
