Fire burns hundreds of water pipes lines in W. Bahr el Ghazal
December 18, 2015 (WAU) – Fire on Friday has burned down more than five hundred water plastic pipes in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state.
General Gregorous Thiepdit Akol who is a state commissioner for civil defence [Fire Brigade] was at the scene when the fire engulfed the area. He told Sudan Tribune that the outbreak of the fire was caused by street children, adding that firemen could not respond on time due to lack of water tanks for firefighting.
“This fire which burns many pipes was caused by the street children and we the fire fighters did not respond on time. This is because we lack fire [fighting] water tanks in Wau. We have only one which is at the airport,” he said.
“This time, we have our water tankers on the way from Dubai, they may arrive in the country as soon as possible,” he said.
The plastic pipe lines were assembled in open space for some years without being connected to supply water to residents. Many more others have also been lying idle in some parts of the town since 2010 after the ministry launched the project to connect homes in the town with clean water but the project stopped due to lack of funds.
After the project stopped, the ministry was unable to reassemble its many carters across the town with trucks left in open spaces due to lack of fuel while other needed mechanical repair.
One of the off-road trucks which was used for transporting the pipe line was also gutted in the fire.
The site project manager now said the ministry was preparing to open a court case against the damages and loss in the fire.
Firemen had been more blamed for their negligence if such incidents occurred. Last year, fire consumed stores at the University of Bahr el Ghazal, burning more than 1000 mattresses used by students.
(ST)