There was pandemonium on Monday afternoon as fire gutted the arrival section of the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri causing passengers and staff to scamper for safety.
The cause of the inferno, which raged for 50 minutes, could not be ascertained, but a source said that there was an ongoing renovation at the arrival section, which was affected.
It took efforts from men of the airport fire service and workers to put off the fire.
“It was a mysterious fire outbreak. It happened at the arrival department of the airport where the authority was carrying out renovation work.
“It would have caused bigger havoc but for the arrival of men of the fire service.
“It started around 2:10 pm and raged for 50 minutes. It damaged equipment and infrastructure but the rescue work assisted in salvaging the situation,” the source said.
When contacted, spokesman of Imo State Command, Nigeria Police Force, Orlando Ikeokwu, said he had not been briefed on the incident.