Sunyani: Two killed in midnight fire at carpentry shop
Two people have died in a fire that gutted a carpentry shop at Penkwasi, a suburb of the Sunyani East Municipality in the Bono Region.
The Ghana National Fire Service has launched investigations into the incident, while the remains of the victims have been deposited at the Sunyani Teaching Hospital morgue.
The deceased, identified as Reagan Kofi Atuahene and Alhassan Sherif Majeed, were trapped inside the burning structure and could not escape. Their bodies have since been conveyed to the Sunyani Teaching Hospital morgue.
Eyewitnesses say the fire started around midnight. The Bono Region has so far recorded 158 fire outbreaks since the beginning of the year, sparking growing concern over fire safety in the area.
One of the workers at the shop, Zakari Abdul Mali, who was at the scene, narrated the ordeal.
“When we woke up, the entire place was engulfed in smoke. We were forced to open the door. Three of us managed to escape, but two were trapped,” he stated.
Rachel Duku, brother of the shop owner, also shared his account of the incident.
“The door was locked, but I managed to open it and step outside. By then, the fire had already engulfed my brother’s shop. There were five young men sleeping inside,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Bono Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, ACFO II Cecil Risch Addo, says investigations are underway to establish the exact cause of the blaze.
“We have started investigations, and we are getting a clue to what happened. They should be assured that the bare facts will be laid before everybody,” he stated.
