Fire burned a family of six in PHC

A family of six perished in an early morning inferno yesterday in Port Harcourt. Nobody could say what caused the fire but neighbors of the deceased family members told us that the fire started at about 2pm. According to the landlord of the house, located at number17, New Estate Road, RailwayQuarters, they heard was a loud explosion. What followed next, he stated, were balls of fire. The residents claimed they ran out of their apartments in the confusion, adding thatthe explosion came from the apartment of the deceased family members. They said three boys, a girl and their parents were thoseconsumed in the fire. They put the ages of the children at twenty two, seventeen, nine and seven years. According to a source, two other daughters of the deceased parents were not at home when the incident occurred. OGODOUPDATES gathered that the two other children relocated from home to write the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE. Neighbors said the father was a taxi driver while the wife was a petty trader. At press time, there was wailingin the compound. The landlord, who did not want his name in print, couldnot hold back tears, saying he wished lives were not lost in the fire. “If the fire had only consumed the building leaving the lives, we would allhave been consoled. But losing a family of six is a heavy loss”, he lamented. Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Angela Agabe, who confirmed the incident, said she was still awaiting details. May their soul rest in peace,Amen!!