Fire consumes Juba Beijing Hotel

December 22, 2011 (JUBA) – A major fire on Thursday broke out at South Sudan’s Juba Being Hotel, consuming properties causing extensive damage. Residents and clients say the fire started inside the main building and spread into others areas around midday.

Captain Sebit Sule, a firefighter, said that the scale of the blaze meant that they had to adopt a defensive mode upon their arrival.

“There was absolutely no way we were going to be able to go into the building,” he said explaining that their investigation indicates that the fire appeared to be accidental and was caused by a heater located in one of the living rooms.

Nobody was reported hurt as all residents and clients escaped safely with some saying they had managed to grab cell phones and other personal belongings.

Makur Manyiel, a resident of the hotel said he was sleeping when a friend in the same apartment hurriedly got into his room and woke him up after hearing an explosion.

“I was sleeping when my friend came into my room shouting fire, fire and woke me up. He looked outside and started freaking out because he saw the room on fire.”

Shelia Dudu, who lived in the same block, said she felt completely helpless when she walked outside and saw the extent of the fire.

“Flames were coming out of the rooms. I’ve never seen a fire that big, like you couldn’t see anything, there was black smoke everywhere. It was insane,” she said. “My heart goes out to the affected clients.”

Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, a senior government official who resides in the hotel said his personal belongings were consumed by the fire.

“All my things have gone. I am left with nothing. I even lost luggage which my children brought from Uganda because they were coming here for Christmas break. I have now stopped the plan to come here”, he said

The hotel has experienced several fire incidents. Thursday’s incident follows a fire in 2009 that destroyed 60 rooms.

Both incidents have been attributed to electrical faults.

Clients say that the few blocks that survived last year’s fire have now been reduced into ashes. The blocks are mostly built of prefabricated materials and accommodate many national and foreign clients.

Attempts by Sudan Tribune to speak to the hotel manager failed as the manager does not speak English while the assistant manager was engaged.

(ST)