Firefighters had reportedly arrived at the scene and were making efforts to put out the raging flames as of the time of filing this report.
A fire outbreak engulfed a popular shopping outlet SPAR in Calabar, Cross River State, with thick smoke billowing across parts of the city on Saturday morning.
The fire, which reportedly started inside the shopping outlet, has attracted attention from residents and passersby as fierce flames could be seen from Barracks Road, located about 100 yards away from the scene.
The intensity of the fire reportedly sent a thick cloud of smoke into the surrounding area, raising concerns among residents and people within the vicinity of the shopping outlet.
Firefighters had reportedly arrived at the scene and were making efforts to put out the raging flames as of the time of filing this report.
Firefighters were seen containing the blaze and preventing it from spreading to other sections of the shopping outlet or nearby buildings.
The circumstances surrounding the outbreak remained unclear as authorities and emergency responders had yet to establish what triggered the fire.
The development has generated concern among residents, particularly because SPAR is a popular shopping destination that attracts a large number of customers.
As of the time of filing this report, First Daily correspondent could not immediately ascertain the cause of the fire, the extent of the damage and whether anyone was injured.
Authorities are also expected to commence an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the fire and assess the level of damage recorded.
The fire comes as emergency responders continue their efforts to prevent the flames from causing further destruction within the busy Calabar area.