Traders at the Douala central market pinpoint frequent power outages as the primary cause of fire outbreaks in the commercial hub.
‘Some traders are speaking out. They cut electricity here like a turn signal in traffic! It’s tragic. That’s why people face financial ruin when their shops catch fire,’ onet revealed.
Another cited haphazard electrical wiring as a contributing factor.
‘The electrical setup in this market is appalling. When power cuts are frequent, the risk of a short circuit is high. That’s what’s been happening,’
These potential root causes emerged after Littoral region Governor Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua informed reporters on Friday, May 24, 2024, that fire that engulfed over 30 shops on Thursday night, May 23, was ignited by a fan left running in one of the shops.
‘It was determined that a trader forgot to switch off a fan in one of the gutted shops and left. Perhaps the fan overheated and sparked the fire, which then spread to other shops,’ the governor said.
Governor Ivaha Diboua al
so observed that illegally constructed shops around the Douala central market hindered firefighters’ efforts to extinguish the blaze.
He cautioned against this practice, which exacerbated the flames and caused extensive material damage.
Source: Cameroon News Agency