Children die in Warrap State fire
April 7, 2012 (JUBA) – Four children are reported to have died when a devastating fire broke out in Manyang Wunkuel payam [district], Gogrial West County, Warrap State, destroying several houses on 4 April, state authorities and eyes witnesses told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
James Deng, a fire brigade officer, told Sudan Tribune in a telephone interview on Saturday from the state capital, Kuacjok, that a search and rescue operation had been carried out.
All the injuries have so far been described by officials as minor.
Deng attributed the cause of the fire to an incident in Manyang Wunkuel village on 4 April, where two women were sharing the embers of a fire they had collected from a neighbour’s house. During the exchange some dry grass was accidentally ignited. The fire spread to an area where children were playing.
Authorities initially put the final death-toll at six people. This has now been revised to four.
On 5 April one of the children died in hospital.
According to another fire officer, Deng Cirilo, two of the children were killed instantly. He also said that a team of investigators, made up of wildlife and fire officers, conducted a thorough search for injured residents in the neighbouring area where a similar incident was reported in Kuacjok on 27 March, killing three.
Cirilo said more fire extinguishing equipment and training is required in the state.
Joseph Akol Wek, who works at the state parliament, reported another fire in Kuacjok town causing widespread damage to goods and property. The police and fire brigade were unable to ascertain the cause of the fire, and say they are still carrying out investigations.
This is not the first time this market has been gutted by fire. Previous outbreaks have often been attributed to over-loaded electrical connections or faulty wiring, mainly caused by stall-owners’ illegal connections.
(ST)