Fire at Beijing Juba Hotel destroys over 60 rooms
By John Agou Wuoi
February 18, 2009 (JUBA) — More than 60 rooms and property of unknown value were destroyed by fire at Beijing Juba Hotel in Juba Southern Sudan on Wednesday. No casualties were reported.
It was not immediately established what caused the fire but unidentified Beijing Juba Hotel staff said the fire which started at around 3 pm Sudan local time may have started in one of the rooms before spreading to other rooms. Unconfirmed reports also say the fire may have started as a result of an electrical fault. The manager of Beijing Juba Hotel was not immediately available to comment on the fire incident. Senior hotel staff (mainly Chinese) also declined to talk to the media.
The Director of Southern Sudan Fire Brigade, Lt. Gen Aru Maan Chot who was at the scene of fire told reporters that the cause of fire has not immediately been established but said investigations are underway. “I cannot tell you for certain what caused the fire but I can confirm that we will launched investigations as soon as we have put off the fire”, he said.
The firefighting team arrived at the scene an hour after the fire had started. Maj.Gen Maan blamed the slow response to the Beijing Juba Hotel fire on lack of firefighting equipment and resources all over Southern Sudan. “The Southern Sudan Firefighting Brigade has only two trucks which were donated to us by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army”, he added. Maj.Gen Maan said his firefighting department also lacks trained personnel to fight fire related incidents in Southern Sudan. The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) also sent two water tankers to reinforce efforts by the Southern Sudan Fire Brigade to put out the fire. The Southern Sudan Fire Brigade two trucks had earlier run out of water.
Some analysts argue that the fire took too long to put out because the building materials used to build the hotel are highly flammable. Many hotels and restaurants in Southern Sudan were built using pre-fabricated building materials. Some of the hotels owners have allegedly defied the Government of Southern Sudan directives stopping the construction of hotels using pre-fabricated materials.
Many of the hotels particularly in Juba, have not complied with fire-safety requirements because they lack advanced smoke or fire detectors as well as firefighting equipment and well-trained staff to handle fire outbreaks.
Beijing Juba Hotel, a Chinese-owned hotel is one of the best and expensive hotels located at the heart of Juba town next to the Southern Sudan Radio and Broadcasting Corporation. The hotel also hosts the Chinese Consulate in Southern Sudan.
(ST)
Nelson Turdit
Fire at Beijing Juba Hotel destroys over 60 rooms
Let,s that Bejing burn down, Chainese used to build carton building as Hotel in Juba to get quick money and go back to their country, what kind of investment in the Hotel industries is that? God,s will purnish them for looting properties of these poor South Sudanese. may almighty God,s bless people of South Sudan!
william wol
Fire at Beijing Juba Hotel destroys over 60 rooms
Yes, yes indeed, this will be a lession to The GOSS,because it is stipulated in proverb that the enemy of your enemy is your ally, so then, there should be no point of allowing chinees to operates in south sudan before knowing their objectives of business.GOSS should makes sure that civil war is over and cold is intestifying tirely, therefore no need of welcoming an allies of our enemy at all, otherwise this underdeveloping region of southern sudan will remain undevelop.
Lastly, GOSS has a duty to equips ever instution with ever requirements needed either being for defence or whatever matter.
May God bless all those who have lost their properties.
Joseph
Fire at Beijing Juba Hotel destroys over 60 rooms
The cost of the fire was electricity, the side that was burn has no AC for several days and the technician who knows electricity has gone to china then they brought some one who has no experience on electricity.
Beijing Juba Hotel does not belong to those enemies or terrorist, but Chinese are bad people, they cooperate when they are getting something.
GOSS should warn all Hotels and private sector to build a permanent building not pre-fabricate materials like one of Beijing Juba Hotel and also make a fix price for hotels and private sector because Juba is the most expensive city.
J Duol
postmortem
Fire at Beijing Juba Hotel destroys over 60 rooms
When I see petty traders claiming to be international investors put chattels to scoop millions of dollars and repatriate to their counties, I am put into coma.
Beijing Hotel fire incidence should serve a stern warning on government officials. Thank God non was a casualty of the fire. Had some of them been inside those chattels at Beijing, they would have been safer in a cold like any street child in Southern Sudan.
The Investment Law is out if my informant is correct. All that I wait is one day that a decree is issued for demolition of preferps in Southern Sudan.
We enjoy seeing ivory towers in South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda name them, not all belong to Government. Some are privately owned and when we get to those countries, we behave like tourist. We have the money to build but unfortunately, we can see the money inland cruisers and hammers. Where are we leading this nation?
The government should equip the Fire Brigade otherwise we may not be able to counter fire breakups or terrorist activities that are always connected with fire. Let alone the difficulties of town planning especially roads which are always difficult to pass in response to emergences. Chinese have the money they will bring more cartons to rebuild their burnt cartons.