A fire that swept through the Abotaose Market in the Biakoye District of the Oti region has reportedly resulted in the death of one person while several others have sustained severe burns.
The fire broke out at about 2:00pm on Saturday, 29th August 2026.
Preliminary reports suggest it may have started after a household fire came into contact with a premix fuel storage facility at the market, though the exact cause is yet to be officially established as investigations continue.
The blaze spread quickly to sections of the market, destroying several structures.
One of the victims, who was sleeping in a nearby shed when the fire broke out, was trapped by the flames and suffered severe burns. He was rushed to the Worawora Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Several others who sustained varying degrees of burns were also taken to the same facility and are receiving treatment.
The Acting District Fire Officer for Biakoye, ADOI Desmond Addo, said the circumstances surrounding the incident were still being investigated.
The fire was eventually brought under control with the help of community volunteers. However, its handling has raised concerns over emergency response times, as professional firefighters had to travel from Dambai and Kpando to reach the affected community.
Residents and traders have since renewed calls for improved fire and emergency response capacity in the area, to prevent similar delays in future.
