In a devastating incident that unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, goods estimated to be worth millions of naira were engulfed by a fierce fire at Watt Market, a prominent marketplace in Calabar, Cross River.

The fire, believed to have ignited around 2 a.m., wreaked havoc on at least six shops within the shopping complex where it originated. Confirming the incident, Olumayowa Olomola, the Commanding Officer of the Calabar Command of the Federal Fire Service, attributed the fire's cause to a power surge within one of the shopping establishments in the market.

While the exact value of the goods consumed by the fire remains uncertain, it is evident that the affected shops were well-stocked. Olomola emphasised that were it not for the timely response of her team, the fire could have extended its reach to more shops.

She further advised, "Our response was prompt, and we succeeded in containing the fire within the six affected shops. I urge everyone to take preventive measures by switching off all electrical appliances to avert incidents of this nature."