Douala: Fire guys shops in Akwa
Douala, Cameroon (CNA) — Another fire has struck the Douche municipal market in Akwa-Douala, a bustling commercial district, just nine months after a devastating blaze on September 17, 2023, which destroyed Quifferou and neighboring shops, causing significant losses for victims.
The fire on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, caught traders off guard, prompting panic as they scrambled to salvage their goods stored in warehouses.
The blaze originated from a shop selling shoes, clothing, bags, and kitchen utensils.
“I and my colleague locked the shop to look for a product in the warehouse to serve a client. We heard people shouting ‘fire, fire,’ and decided to rush back only to discover thick smoke balls emanating from our shop,” explained a shopkeeper.
Firefighters intervened swiftly, preventing the flames from spreading to other shops.
Market managers attribute the recurring incidents to traders’ negligence.
“We have done everything within our capacity to contain such incidents in this market and have repeatedly urged traders to have fire extinguishers in their shops, but the majority of them have ignored our warnings,” said a youth leader of the market.
The latest fire at the Douche municipal market serves as a wake-up call for traders to adhere to security measures set by market officials to avoid further devastation, similar to the events of September 2023.
