An evening fire yesterday destroyed part of Finotel Classic Hotel located near Nwa Uzu Junction, Agu Awka, Awkacapital territory, Anambra state
Ashiwaju.org visited the scene, we observed that property worth several million of Naira perished in the inferno.
Witnesses said the fire started at about 6:00 pm from the upper part of the Hotel Classic but were not able to ascertain the cause of the inferno.
A guest in the hotel who pleaded anonymity explained that the fire caused panic inside the hotel as people ran for safety.
“I heard people shouting ‘fire! Fire’ at the lobby and I saw thick smoke oozing out from a section of the building. Then, I knew there was problem. I had to run for safety like others, he said.”
Ashiwaju.org also gathered that the fire service came very late to the scene and it took the intervention of the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who directed the Government House Fire Fighting Trucks to reduce the level of wreckage that would have occured in the Hotel fire outbreak.
Efforts to speak with the hotel management was probed abortive at the time of filling this report, but Ashiwaju.org arguable heard from an expert that came to sympathize with the Hotel Management said the damage should run into Million of Naira .
I quote him, ''From the look of this wreckage, the value of items destroyed here would run into fifty million naira as an estimation from the current value of product in the market''.
''I am not sure the property is insured, if yes, it would be a leverage to ameliorate the hard tool the owner or group would have suffered. If I may add, let me use this medium to encourage Nigerians to be fire safety caution, knowing what is happing around in the country and as well imbibe the culture of insuring ones properties and lives, because an unfortunate event happens to anyone unprepared'' the expert submitted.
Eye witnesses there however called on government to overhaul the country fire service system and advice that people should cultivate the attitude to report fire incidents promptly to the fire fighting agencies in the state
