More Than D4M Worth Perishes

Sere Kunda market was the scene of chaos on Saturday morning as five shops got engulfed by fire. The shops, located in the compound of the Interim Chairman of the Management Committee of Kanifing Municipal Council, Mr. Gibou Jagne, were completely razed by the fire in spite of frantic efforts by neighbours.

Speaking to The Point, Mr. Jagne said that the fire broke out in his absence. “I was called and informed that there was a fire outbreak in some shops in our compound. Then I rushed there. But upon my arrival, I was informed that the Fire and Ambulance Service personnel were there but had to leave as their tank was empty. But thank God that the market vendors and neighbours helped a lot and no life was lost. I really appreciate the people’s effort because without them the disaster may be more than this,” he explained, noting that if the first Fire Service vehicle that arrived at the scene contained water, the fire wouldn’t have spread to the other shops.

Mr. Jagne therefore called on the Fire and Ambulance Service to always ensure that they had full tanks on standby as such incident come about unawares.

When asked how the fire broke out, Mr Alhagie Jobe, the owner of the shop where eyewitnesses claimed the fire started, said he was not present when the fire started but that his brother had told him that he was selling when all of a sudden he smelt some burning substance and looking around, saw smoke but could not see source. Just then, he recounted, the ceiling of the shop caved in. This led them to call the Serekunda Fire and Ambulance Services who, he noted, came with an empty tank, leaving the rescue effort to the market vendors who helped put out the fire.

The despondent but calm-looking Mr. Taib Jobe disclosed that he lost 3 millon Dalasis worth of goods to the fire. He disclosed that the gutted items mainly consist of consignment he brought from Dubai two days before the incident. Mr. Jobe however expressed dissatisfaction with the Fire Service personnel for what he called their recklessness and thanked all those who helped put out the fire. Another victim, Alagie Jobe, brother to Mr. Taib Jobe, is also said to have lost more than one million dalasis.

For his part, Commissioner Gibba of Kanifing Police, said that the timely intervention of the security personnel averted an otherwise serious consequence, adding that the security personnel had done well by safely guarding the goods salvaged from the fire. He noted that some people always take advantage of such circumstances by stealing property. “That is why when I received a call I made sure the security are there and when they came in, the first thing they did was to clear the crowd in order to have chance in exercising their duty.”

According to Muhammed Jabbie, a market vendor, he was attending to some customers when he heard about the fire incident. Then he left with his boys to help the fire personnel who unfortunately arrived with empty tank. “We struggled to help. It is very sad because of the level of destruction,” he bemoaned, adding that “Fire Service should always be ready with full water tank in case of any emergency because if at all there was someone inside he might have been killed.”

Meanwhile according to a press release from the Inspector-General of Police, a task force has been set up to look into the cause of the fire.

Accordingly, immediately after their meetings with the president, all the ambassadors reassured their good will to strengthen and reinforce the bilateral cooperation between their respective countries and The Gambia.