DISASTER

 

SITUATIONAL REPORT

 

LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR OLD 

DIED IN HOUSEHOLD FIRE

The household number W.115 near the public toilet at Aboasa an area in Akropong Akuapem slept in an outrageous and a sad mood around 7 P.M last night.

The story had it that after the evening meal, Madam Asor a mother of four left her children aged five, three, two, a year and two months respectively in their single room occupied by a group of nine people to sleep so that she could go to see to her fried egg business at the road side. A short while, the eldest boy age 5years came to inform their mother that the room was in flames. The mother did not take him serious and continued with her business. Later, the entire neighborhood was alarmed as people started trooping to the scene amidst shouting and wailing.

A CROSS SECTION OF THE BURNT ROOM

 

 

 

 

 

In an interview with an eye witness name Ebe, said he was in his compound next to the disaster

scene and he saw smoke coming from the ceiling as well as the cracking of wood as in flames, he quickly dashed to the place to find out for himself. He narrated that as he reached the house he heard the crying and wailing of children in the room, though the fame was so intensive, he mustered courage and enter the room to rescue the three children crying. According to him, the fire had already engulfed and burnt the fourth one name Kwaku a one year two months old baby to death. Meanwhile, two years old, Kwaku Ofori a brother to the decease also sustain a first degree burns and since been rushed to the hospital at Akropong. 

SOME OF THE BURNT CLOTHING

He said as the fire was escalating he tried to save the baby as he was also trapped in the fire but he managed to escaped. However, another young man by name Zibotey later joined him to fight the fire as they fetched water from the surrounding houses to combat it before others came later. He lamented that by the time the fire service had arrived at the scene the baby, the room and its belongings had burnt beyond recognition.

In an interview with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Deputy Zonal Officer Mr. Albert Oboa Larbi, said he verified from a close source that the disaster was caused by a candle light. He added that the house in question had been disconnected by the Electricity Company for some time now hence had resorted to candle and other source of light energy. He also told the ISD News Desk that NADMO is doing all that it could to extend some assistant in the form of blankets, mattresses and clothing to the disaster victims.

SAMUEL Y. KUMAH

MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER