13‑year‑old dies in Kumasi fire

A late‑night blaze in Kumasi’s Tarkwa Makro community has claimed the life of a 13‑year‑old boy and destroyed a nine‑bedroom house, leaving residents shaken and grieving.

The fire broke out on Monday night, quickly engulfing the building and trapping the teenager, identified as Hassan. Eyewitnesses say frantic attempts to rescue him failed. One resident, Prince, recalled hearing Hassan’s desperate cries for help but was unable to reach him. “He was calling me, saying ‘Bra Prince, I’m burning, help me.’ I told him to open the door, but he said it was locked. I tried, but I couldn’t save him,” he said, breaking down in tears.

At the time of the incident, only four people were inside the house. By the time firefighters arrived, the structure had already been gutted, with personal belongings and household items reduced to ashes. The Ghana National Fire Service has since launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze.

The tragedy has reignited concerns about fire safety in densely populated Kumasi neighbourhoods, where faulty wiring, locked exits and delayed emergency response often turn accidents into disasters. For residents of Tarkwa Makro, the loss of young Hassan is a painful reminder of how quickly lives can be upended by fire.

Source: myjoyonline.com