Scores of residents at Afful Nkwanta, a densely populated slum in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region, have been rendered homeless after a devastating fire razed wooden structures used as makeshift homes by mostly metal scrap dealers and head porters.
The victims include young women with children and men who migrated from the northern part of the country in search of employment opportunities in the south. Many of the structures were erected haphazardly, resulting in severe congestion that hindered emergency access.
The fire, which broke out between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., destroyed several homes. No injuries or fatalities were recorded. Residents have since begun clearing debris as they attempt to rebuild their lives.
Speaking to Citi News, one of the victims, Mahammud Bawah Zakaria, recounted the chaos:
“We put up these wooden structures ourselves, but there’s no proper layout or guidance to arrange them safely. When fire breaks out, it’s almost impossible for firefighters to enter. It happened very early this morning. People were waking up to find flames engulfing their homes. There are rumours that some say it was intentional, others think it was caused by gas, but whatever the cause, we are thankful that no one was hurt. Personally, I lost six rooms. It’s a huge loss, but we leave it to the will of Allah.”
This latest incident comes just months after a similar fire in another nearby slum in January, which left dozens displaced and destroyed properties.
Source: Citinewsroom
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