Fire Engulfed The New Bakassi

CALABAR—Over 300 huts have been razed down and 3,000 persons rendered homeless as fire guts a fishing settlement in Afa Iso Mbiet in Day Spring II Island in the Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
In the inferno which started weekend, household property including clothes, electronics, beds, food, cash, fishing implements, outboard engines and boats were lost.
Vanguard gathered that what aggravated the damage was the harmattan wind that swept through the area spreading the fire to all the huts, thereby aborting all efforts by the villagers to halt the disaster.
At the scene, after the devastation, many of the displaced could be seen hurriedly putting up make_shift huts with wild palms to accommodate the people while majority have temporarily relocated to neighbouring fishing ports.
Victims, especially women and children were seen helplessly crouching around exposed to the inclement weather of the harmattan breeze with barely any cloth to cover themselves and no food or water to drink.
Also affected was a Government Primary School, 3 Churches and 3 provision stores.
While narrating what happened, the village head of Afa Iso Mbiet, Chief Effiong Iman whose palace was also burnt said that the fire started as a surprise and created panic amongst the populace who had no inkling of the source.
Mfon Effiong Okon, 31 who sustained a first degree burn said that the injury was as a result of his effort at stopping the fire.

Mrs. Emem Isong, 27 a pregnant shop owner, who deals on cloths pointing to where her shop once stood in tears said  everything was burnt in the fire. She called on Government to come to their aid.

The Pastor of The Apostolic Church in the area, Elder Effiong Asuquo Akpan said that apart from the structure, the Church property worth thousands of Naira was lost.
Meantime the Director_General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Vincent Aquah, MON has described the sad incident as a heavy draw back to the economic lives of the victims as well as the State.
Mr. Vincent Aquah who was represented by the Programme Assessor in the Agency, Peggie Inyang said that it was a pathetic situation which needed urgent response.