Hundreds of traders have been displaced following a devastating fire that engulfed Kantamanto Market in Accra’s Central Business District, reducing nearly the entire market to ashes. The blaze, which erupted late last night, left widespread destruction, with traders scrambling to salvage their goods as the flames rapidly spread. According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out suddenly, catching many off guard. “We were asleep when we heard someone shouting. When we woke up, we saw that there was a fire outbreak,” one resident recounted.
The Ghana National Fire Service deployed 13 fire tenders from across the Greater Accra Region to combat the blaze. Speaking to JoyNews, Fire Service spokesperson ADO1 Alex King Nartey described the situation as “very serious.” He explained that while firefighters initially managed to douse the fire, their efforts were hampered by the unavailability of a fire hydrant and the depletion of their water supply, leading to the fire reigniting. Despite the severity of the fire, he noted that there had been no reports of severe casualties so far. However, ADO1 Alex King Nartey stated that extinguishing the fire could take approximately two days, given its intensity and the conditions on the ground.
Traders and local residents joined firefighters in battling the inferno, but the scale of destruction was immense. As smoke continued to billow over the devastated market, affected traders grappled with the heartbreaking loss of their livelihoods. Many are appealing for immediate support to rebuild their businesses, while others are urging authorities to investigate the fire’s cause and improve market safety measures.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
