A fire outbreak caused by a fallen petrol tanker has destroyed houses and shops leaving three people dead around MOPOL-nineteen, G.R.A Phase Four, Port Harcourt.

The tanker which fell around Rumuola had spilt its content into the drain extending from Rumuola to MOPOL-nineteen, Daily Post reports.

Those affected by the inferno blamed the high level of damage on the slow response of the Rivers state Fire Service.

According to reports, the fire burned from the drains, torched shops around Rumoula and stretched to G.R.A Phase Four to burn houses.

One of the respondents, who identified himself as Chibuchi, said,

“I am angry because of the magnitude of what I have lost here. When the fire started we were calling Fire Service but they were not responding. And this I not the kind of fire that ordinary people can quench.

“The fire was burning from Rumuola down to this MOPOL-19, If not for the MFM Church that came to the rescue, the damage would have been worse than this.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government, Victor Ihunwo, advised residents to be safety conscious during the festive season.

Ihunwo promised that the state government would assist those who lost their loved ones and property in the fire incident.