By Akpan Udo-Inyang
CALABAR
Following a fire outbreak that destroys shops and valuable property along No. 90 Murtala Mohammed Highway, Ishie Town, Calabar, the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) has conducted an immediate damage and needs assessment.
The assessment, was led by the Director -General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, in collaboration with officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
The fire, which affected four commercial shops, completely destroyed three of the businesses and their contents, leaving the owners with significant losses.
Among the worst-hit businesses were a laundry service and a fashion design shop, where sewing machines, fabrics, customers’ clothing, generators and other valuable equipment were completely consumed by the inferno.
Parts of the affected building also sustained structural damage as a result of the intense heat.
One of the victims, Mrs. Cecilia Sampson, owner of the affected fashion design shop, struggled to hold back tears as she recounted the devastating loss.
She described the destroyed business as her only source of livelihood and lamented that, beyond losing her sewing machines and equipment, numerous customers’ fabrics entrusted to her were also consumed by the fire.
Sampson was concerned over how she would replace the damaged materials, describing the incident as a heartbreaking setback that has left her emotionally and financially devastated.
During the assessment, the team interacted with affected business owners to document the extent of the damage and identify their immediate humanitarian needs.
Speaking during the visit, the Director General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, sympathized with the affected victims and assured them that the Cross River State Government, under the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu, shares in their pain.
Nyong explained that the assessment would provide government with credible information on the extent of the damage and the immediate needs of the victims, adding that the agency remains committed to ensuring timely humanitarian intervention for disaster-affected persons across the state.
He urged the victims to remain hopeful, assuring them that government would continue to explore appropriate ways of supporting citizens affected by disasters.
The director- general also emphasized the importance of fire prevention, encouraging residents and business owners to regularly inspect electrical installations and ensure proper wiring of their premises to minimize the risk of fire outbreaks.
Officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society also carried out a humanitarian assessment, documenting the losses sustained by each affected business while providing psychosocial support and reassurance to the victims.
Although the exact cause of the fire had not been established as of the time of the assessment, preliminary observations suggested that it may have originated from an electrical fault or defective wiring.