A devastating fire outbreak on Monday night at a slum community near the Asoprochona railway station in Sakumono has left hundreds of residents homeless and in despair.
The fire, which started around 7 p.m., tore through the densely packed wooden structures that made up the settlement, consuming homes and personal belongings within minutes.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as women and children scrambled to safety, with little time to rescue their possessions.
Stretching across an estimated 100 metres in length and 40 metres in width, the affected area was home to numerous families. The fire’s swift spread was fuelled by the wooden nature of the structures and their proximity to each other, making it difficult for residents to intervene or salvage anything.
Emergency response teams from the Ghana National Fire Service were deployed from four different fire stations—Tema, Nungua, and Spintex—to combat the flames.
According to DO II Fiifi Oppong, the Tema Regional Operations Officer, firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two hours before bringing it under control.
By the time the fire was extinguished, the scene had turned into a wasteland of twisted metal, charred wood, and ash. Distraught residents were seen gathered behind the fence of the nearby Mount Zion Methodist Church, some seated in silence, others sifting through debris in hopes of finding anything left of their lives.
One resident, Godwin Asalatu, recounted how a friend lost everything he had saved for his father’s upcoming funeral. A woman named Amina, in tears, said she lost all the lace fabrics she sold for a living, along with the few items that sustained her family.
Fire officials were unable to confirm the cause of the blaze at the time of reporting, noting that investigations would begin shortly.
However, residents suspect that an electrical fault or an unattended cooking fire may have been the cause.
The disaster has once again highlighted the precarious living conditions within informal settlements and the urgent need for improved housing and safety measures to protect vulnerable populations.
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