People using water hoses to extinguish the fire at a building in Konyo-Konyo Market, damaged by fire on Thursday, December 19, 2024 - Courtesy of City Council Press Unit

The Central Equatoria State Government has confirmed that a fire outbreak at Juba’s Konyo-Konyo Market on Thursday resulted in one fatality and significant damage to goods and business structures.

Gerald Francis, the acting Minister of Information and Communication stated that the government has established a fact-finding committee to investigate the incident, with a report expected to be submitted to the Governor’s office within 14 days.

The fire reportedly started in a salon, is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

Francis noted that access challenges, such as blocked roads and narrow pathways caused by street vendors, hindered the timely arrival of firefighters, worsening the situation.

The Minister emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to reorganize markets in the state, acknowledging the resistance often encountered in implementing these changes.

He stressed that incidents like this demand immediate action, outlining measures to prevent future tragedies, such as improving road access and enforcing safety standards in market areas.

“I have constituted a committee to investigate the incident and submit a report within 14 days to my office,” Francis told the media on Friday. “Your safety and security are the paramount concern of the Central Equatoria State Government.”

He further remarked that while the government plans to reorganize the markets, resistance from the public is often an obstacle.

“The government is committed to taking drastic measures to improve the situation,” he said. “So far, we have confirmed one fatality in yesterday’s fire. The fire started in a salon and was likely caused by an electrical fault, but access problems also played a significant role. The roads around Konyo-Konyo are blocked by street vendors, which made it difficult for fire trucks to reach the scene in time.”

Some traders in Konyo-Konyo Market spoke to Eye Radio, attributing the fire’s devastating impact to the delayed arrival of fire trucks. They explained that the lack of clear and accessible roads slowed the firefighting response, allowing the blaze to spread uncontrollably.

Mary Cantello, a trader in Konyo-Konyo Market, explained, “The fire started in one of the hair salons and spread throughout the market. I had used clothes ready for Christmas sales, but everything was burned. The fire trucks couldn’t reach me because the roads were blocked.”

David Motung also blamed the street vendors for obstructing roads, which made it impossible for fire trucks to reach the fire in time. “One of the challenges we faced in dealing with the fire was the street vendors who blocked the roads,” he said. “We need the government to provide fire trucks in the market and improve the access roads.”

Bashir Mohamed, another trader, reported losses of $50,000 in goods, stating, “The spread of the fire was worsened by the delay in the fire truck’s arrival due to the blocked roads and crowds.”

Fahd Muzammil, who lost $5,000 worth of goods, echoed similar concerns: “The fire trucks couldn’t reach the location in time because of the blocked roads. The market urgently needs better planning.”

This fire is part of a worrying trend in Juba, where market fires have caused significant losses for traders.

In April 2022, at least four shops were destroyed in a fire at the Custom Market, which was also believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

Similarly, in December 2021, a fire at the same market destroyed over 60 shops, underscoring the need for better fire prevention and response measures in the city’s commercial areas.