A tragic fire swept through a compound in Bakau Newtown early yesterday morning, reducing it to ashes and leaving its occupants in despair.
The fire, which reportedly began around 2:30 a.m., spread rapidly due to the highly flammable materials in the building. Residents scrambled to escape, some waking up to the smell of smoke and the roar of flames.
Fatou Korita, a resident and eyewitness, recounted hearing frantic shouts of “fire, fire” before rushing to rescue children from their rooms. She noted that the fire originated in the ceiling of an unoccupied room, making it difficult to detect its source in time.
Another witness, Ousman Marr, lamented the delayed response of the emergency team, which arrived nearly an hour after the fire was reported. By then, most of the compound had already been consumed by the flames.
Despite their efforts, residents could only watch helplessly as the fire destroyed their home. Many thanked the local youths, neighbors, and firefighters for their intervention but appealed for assistance to help the affected families recover and rebuild.
The victims are calling on the government, NGOs, and compassionate individuals to step in and provide urgent support in their time of need.
