Inferno Strikes Major Market in Accra, Casualty-Free Incident
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Accra, Jan 3 (NationPress) An inferno erupted at a prominent market situated in the bustling business district of Accra, the capital city of Ghana.
The blaze, which ignited in the early hours of Thursday, wreaked havoc as traders rushed to save their merchandise while the fire rapidly intensified.
According to eyewitness accounts reported by local media, the flames appeared suddenly, prompting onlookers to scream in an effort to alert others to the devastation that was engulfing numerous stalls within the market, as stated by Xinhua news agency.
The fire caused extensive damage to significant sections of the Kantamanto Market, a hub for secondhand clothing, construction materials, chemicals, paint, and furniture, among other items. Distraught vendors were observed mourning the loss of their products while the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) worked to extinguish the flames.
Despite the deployment of at least 13 fire engines, the GNFS struggled to contain the rapidly spreading fire, which exhibited intense vigor, consuming many structures within mere hours.
At one point, local residents joined the efforts, utilizing buckets and gallons of water, along with basic tools, to assist the GNFS in slowing the fire's advance.
"Based on our assessment, the fire has obliterated over 100 shops due to their close proximity. Once one shop catches fire, it spreads easily to the others," stated Alex King Nartey, a spokesperson for the GNFS.
Nartey noted that the closeness of the shops facilitated the fire's rapid spread, adding that fire crews had to quickly decide to separate structures that were already burning from those that were still intact to prevent further devastation.
The challenge was exacerbated by the absence of a functioning fire hydrant in the market area, necessitating that firefighters leave the scene periodically to refill their water supply.
"However, it is fortunate that we managed to save more shops than those that were lost. Looking at the remaining buildings, we successfully protected them from the flames," the GNFS spokesperson remarked, indicating that investigations into the fire's origin are currently underway.
The Kantamanto Market, recognized as one of the largest in the nation, serves as a vital economic resource for thousands of families and significantly contributes to the local business community.
