Panic as fire guts popular 5 star hotel in rivers state

Scene of the incident
Sampson Itode, Port Harcourt

There was panic at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Port Harcourt GRA, Phase 2, on Tuesday, as fire engulfed some rooms on the first floor.


It was gathered that the fire, which started in one of the rooms, forced occupants of other rooms to rush out of the premises, while other guests, who parked their vehicles on the premises, hurriedly drove them out.

Sources said the inferno was extinguished by workers in the hotel, who battled for about 10 minutes before the arrival of operatives of the Rivers State Fire Service.


There was, however, no human casualty, but property worth millions of naira was destroyed by the inferno.

The Human Resources Consultant to the hotel, Paul Odousoro, told PUNCH Metro that the cause of the fire was still unknown, adding that the occupant of the room where it started was not around when the inferno began.

He said, “One of the hotel’s housekeepers in the corridor of the first floor noticed heavy smoke coming out of that particular room that got burnt. The room was occupied by a customer, but the customer had gone to work when the fire started.

“The housekeeper, who first noticed it, raised the alarm and immediately the fire alarm was activated and all guests were taken to the muster point. When everyone was safely at the muster point, the process of extinguishing out the fire began.