A massive fire swept through a densely populated slum near the Asoprochona railway station in Sakumono on Monday night, rendering hundreds of residents homeless and reducing dozens of structures to ashes.
The blaze, which erupted around 7 p.m., spread rapidly through the closely built wooden shacks, fueled by highly flammable materials. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as residents, including women and children, fled in desperation.
“It was terrifying. People were shouting and scrambling to rescue their children and whatever they could carry. But the fire spread too fast,” a resident recalled.
The affected settlement, estimated to span 100 meters by 40 meters, was home to several families. In its wake, the inferno left behind scorched debris, twisted metal, and charred timber.
Firefighters from the Ghana National Fire Service, led by Tema Regional Operations Officer DO II Fiifi Oppong, responded with four fire tenders from Tema, Nungua, and Spintex. After nearly two hours of intense effort, they succeeded in containing the fire.
As darkness fell, many displaced residents gathered at the fenced grounds of the Mount Zion Methodist Church, stunned and devastated, while others sifted through the rubble for salvaged items.
Though the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, initial speculations point to either an electrical fault or an unattended cooking fire. Fire officials have announced that investigations are underway.