Shop owners reportedly watched helplessly as flames spread through the popular shopping complex.
A major fire has gutted the popular SPAR Mall in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, on Saturday morning.
Videos circulating on social media showed thick black smoke and flames billowing from the shopping complex, while panicked residents and shop owners gathered outside the facility.
In one of the videos, a witness could be heard saying, “It’s moving from shop to shop,” as the fire spread through the building.
Some shop owners also expressed frustration over the perceived delay in emergency response, saying goods worth millions of naira were at risk.
“No fire service in Calabar,” one witness lamented in a video recorded at the scene.
Another woman, visibly distressed, said millions of naira worth of goods were being destroyed, while appealing for water and firefighting assistance.
Subsequent footage, however, showed a fire truck and police personnel arriving at the scene. The police were also seen managing the crowd as efforts were made to contain the blaze.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the Cross River State Government or relevant emergency management authorities on possible casualties, the condition of the building or the extent of the damage.
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