A devastating fire has ravaged a self-contained apartment on Rumuworlu Street, in the Eneka area of the Port Harcourt metropolis, leaving an 8-month-old baby feared dead.
The inferno, which occurred early this morning, affected two of the seven units of the self-contained apartments, sending shockwaves through the community.
Eyewitnesses report that the mother of the baby, in a desperate bid to rescue her children, ran into the burning house, sustaining severe injuries in the process.
While her two-year-old child survived with severe injuries, the 8-month-old baby was unable to escape the flames.
The mother, who fainted after escaping the burning building, was rushed to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) by the Rivers State Emergency Medical Service. Her condition remains unknown at this time.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, as it was gathered that the scene of the fire has been cordoned off, and emergency responders are working to determine the origin of the blaze.
Neighbors and eyewitnesses describe the scene as chaotic, with flames engulfing the apartment and thick smoke billowing into the air.
One of the eyewitnesses said: “It was like a nightmare. The mother was screaming, and the flames were so intense. It’s a miracle anyone made it out alive.”
However, there is no statement yet from authorities to ascertain the cause of the fire.