A gas plant in Port Harcourt’s Rumukurusi axis, Rivers State, caught fire early Tuesday, prompting concern among residents and business owners.
The incident happened around 5 a.m., when most people were still sleeping.
Residents stated they awoke to the sound of shouting coming from the area of Hydropet Oil Services Limited’s gas facility.
A shop owner in the area named Grace said she witnessed the fire when she got up at 5:20 a.m.
She stated, “So I quickly came out to the road leading to Eneka, lo and behold it was Hydropet gas plant that was on fire. The fire was huge. I was so afraid because My shop is close to that place.”
A resident told reporters that it was the Shell fire service that extinguished the fire which lasted for about four hours.
“Imagine from Artillery to Eleme Junction there is no fire station. Even when the Federal Fire Service came within a short time they ran out of water.
“Thank God for the Shell Fire Services because we don’t know maybe the tank would have exploded.”
Meanwhile, many residents and business owners thronged out to catch a glimpse of the fire, while some expressed worry over a possible explosion.
Scores of policemen and the fire service team cordoned off the area with red lights and prevented vehicles from further accessing the road.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she would find out from the police division and get back.
She had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report on Tuesday morning.