Calabar Spar Mall Inferno: Trader Details How Power Fluctuation and Exploding Bulb Triggered Multi-Million Naira Disaster

A quiet evening of commerce at the high-brow Spar Mall in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, descended into absolute chaos as a sudden, ferocious inferno tore through parts of the multi-million naira shopping complex. While official investigations by the state fire service are reportedly underway, distraught traders and eyewitnesses have begun sharing harrowing accounts of the moments preceding the disaster. According to one trader who spoke under anonymity, the tragedy was heralded by a series of rapid electrical anomalies that ultimately triggered the outbreak.

"It started with violent voltage fluctuations," the eyewitness narrated, detailing how the lights in several retail outlets flickered erratically before a loud pop echoed through the corridor. A light bulb in one of the central shops allegedly exploded, scattering sparks onto highly flammable materials nearby. Within minutes, smoke began billowing from the affected outlet, setting off a wave of panic as shoppers and workers scrambled for the exit doors amidst choking darkness.

Despite the valiant efforts of early responders to contain the spark using portable fire extinguishers, the flame rapidly gained momentum, feeding on the extensive combustible materials housed within the retail stalls. The lack of an immediate, automated sprinkler response allegedly compounded the crisis, allowing the fire to quickly breach partition walls and engulf adjoining sections of the mall, causing widespread panic across the Calabar metropolis.