Seven buildings in the Balogun Market area of Lagos Island, Lagos State, were razed down in the Wednesday fire inferno that saw properties and goods worth millions of naira destroyed.
The incident happened on Martins and Sunny Adewale streets.
It was learnt that the fire started around 8.30am from a four-storey building located at No. 35/37, Martins Street, and quickly spread to the adjoining buildings.
Most of the razed buildings were besides the Great Nigeria Insurance building, which was similarly burnt on November 5, 2019.
It was gathered that a generator was working when one of the traders attempted refuelling it which started the fire.
Some of the traders said that when the fire started, they contacted the Lagos State Fire Service, whose personnel arrived at the scene promptly.
They added that there was little the firemen could do as hawkers and other traders congested the scene.
One of the victims, Gift Duru, said if the hawkers, who blocked the street through indiscriminate display of their wares, had conducted themselves properly, the fire would not have spread to other buildings.