By Hou Akot Hou
Fire ripped through a market in Aweil South County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State on Tuesday morning, destroying 45 shops.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation, with local authorities suspecting it may have originated from women making tea.
Wol Mawein, the Payam Administrator of Tier-Aliet Payam said the fire is alleged to have started while women were making tea,
“Two people, Arek Ajal Deng and Awan Muothon Angok are being held by police for questioning as they were reportedly preparing tea when the fire began.” He stated.
The fire spread quickly, causing significant damage.
“Most of the shops are burnt to ashes. It is a great loss for the shop owners,” Mawein said.
A committee comprised of the traders’ union and police has been formed to investigate the incident and assess the losses.
“We’re working to determine the value of the lost goods and valuables,” Mawein explained. “The fire was too intense to salvage anything.”
This fire is not an isolated incident similar fires have occurred in Maper, Udhum, and Aroyo markets, causing destruction and hardship during this economic crisis.
Mawein urged residents to exercise caution when handling fire.
Fire safety has been a growing concern in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State- Aweil throughout 2024.
“We’ve seen several fire-related tragedies this year,” Mawein said. “In January, two children in Mangok Payam, Aweil East County, died in a fire after being left alone by an elder who was using fire for heating. The flames engulfed the thatched house.”
Authorities are urging residents to handle fire with care and to avoid leaving children unattended near flames.