Worshippers and residents in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, were thrown into panic when a fully loaded lorry lost control and crashed into the premises of St. Matthias Catholic Church before bursting into flames.

The crash occurred along the Agulu Lake–Golden Tulip Hotel Road, a busy route that slopes sharply as it approaches the town. The impact shattered part of the church fence and sent a wall of fire and thick smoke into the air, forcing motorists to halt abruptly and creating a traffic gridlock as people scrambled for safety.

An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Uzor, said the lorry had been descending the slope at high speed when the driver appeared to lose control. The vehicle veered off the carriageway, tore through the church perimeter, and immediately went up in flames.

According to him, the timing of the incident a period when no church activity was ongoing spared the community from tragedy. He said no worshippers or staff were within the immediate impact zone, and there were no reported casualties.

Residents and passersby initially attempted to tackle the blaze with buckets of water and fire extinguishers while keeping a distance from the burning vehicle, fearing an explosion. The driver of the lorry reportedly fled the scene moments after the crash, abandoning the vehicle as the fire intensified.

The Anambra State Fire Service confirmed the incident through its Media and Publicity Unit, led by spokesperson Chukwudi Chiketa. He said preliminary investigations pointed to speeding and loss of control as the likely causes of the crash.

Chiketa explained that firefighters were deployed immediately after a distress call was received. They battled the flames and prevented the fire from spreading to the church building and nearby structures. The operation was later concluded after the fire was fully extinguished and the area declared safe.

In a separate incident the same week, the fire service also responded to a major fire at Climax Industry Limited on Nnanka Street, Oduma Layout, Obosi, in Idemili North Local Government Area. The blaze affected both industrial and residential sections of the premises.

Fire crews from the Ogidi and Okpoko stations worked for several hours to contain the Obosi fire and stop it from spreading to adjoining buildings. The cause of that incident is still under investigation.

Chiketa urged residents, motorists, and business owners to observe safety regulations, avoid speeding, maintain vehicles properly, and report any fire outbreak immediately to the nearest fire station.