Residents of Okwelle (Soku) community waterfront in Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt local government area of Rivers State are counting their losses following a fire outbreak that engulfed the makeshift houses in the area on Wednesday morning.
A member of PHALGA Security Watch, Chukwuma Atamkpo who spoke to our correspondent at the scene of the fire narrated that a female resident forgot to put off her candle which caused the inferno and spread to other makeshift rooms.
However, another resident identified as Christain Alali also explained that a resident forgot to put off his stove which exploded and gutted the makeshift building on fire.
Some female occupants lamented that they were at work when the fire started and on getting home all their property and valuables had been destroyed completely by the fire, adding they were unable to pick out anything from their rooms.
They, however, called on Government to come to their rescue as they have lost all they have.
Meanwhile, the PHALGA Security Personnel were on ground to prevent hoodlums from looting the property of some residents that were brought out from the rooms by the owners.
Our correspondent reports that the Youths of the community helped to fight and finally put off the fire with water and detergent before the arrival of firefighters after over thirty makeshift rooms had completely been razed.
