A Christmas tragedy which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday (yesterday) has left residents of Rivers state in pains and lament.

It was gathered that a fire outbreak caused by a fallen petroleum tanker killed at least four persons and consumed apartments and shops around MOPOL-nineteen, G.R.A Phase Four, Port Harcourt, the state capital.

 The petroleum tanker, which fell around Rumuola, had spilled its content into the drain extending from Rumuola to MOPOL-nineteen.

A witness said the four victims were family members who were unable to flee like other residents who survived the fire. Several houses and property worth millions of naira were destroyed, while several others suffered different degrees of burns and were rushed to the hospital by the officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

 Those affected by the inferno that destroyed houses and shops around Rumuola and MOPOL-nineteen area of Port Harcourt blamed slow response of the Rivers state Fire Service for the level of damage done by the fire.

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