Fire guts Catholic cathedral in Owerri, destroys musical equipment, others

A fire has destroyed the sanctuary section of Assumpta Cathedral of the Owerri Metropolitan Catholic Archdiocese in Imo State on Monday.

Musical equipment such as amp, audio speakers, microphones and other items were destroyed in the inferno.

Located at Control junction in Owerri, the archdiocesan headquarters saw parishioners, priests and journalists trooping in to have a glimpse of the destruction caused by the inferno few minutes past 8:00 am on Monday, The Punch reports.

Items worth millions of naira were estimated to be lost in the fire incident.

A parishioner at the scene of the incident said, “The incident happened at the midnight.

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“The sanctuary department is affected. Thank God it didn’t spread to the other parts of the cathedral. I don’t know what we would have done.

“This is coming at a time a new archbishop for the archdiocese will be installed on June 23. I don’t know what we would have done. Glory be to God that the damage is minimal.”

The Director of communications for the archdiocese, Rev Fr. Raymond Nzeremeogu, said, “Glory be to God the fire was put out very early. It didn’t spread to the other parts of the cathedral.

“Firefighters were contacted and they came. Cloths, musical equipment like the amp, audio speakers, microphones and others were affected.”