Title: Devastating fire at the Mont-Ngafula market: an unprecedented tragedy
Introduction :
On the night of Monday August 21 to Tuesday August 22, 2023, an incredibly violent fire ravaged the “Camp des Polices Militaires” market located in the town of Mont-Ngafula. The damage is colossal, with more than forty commercial houses and nearly three hundred tables consumed by the flames. Although the exact reasons for this fire are still unknown, the consequences for traders are devastating. No loss of human life is to be deplored, but the material losses are considerable. Let’s take a look back at the poignant testimonies and unanswered questions following this tragedy.
Overwhelming testimonials:
Pelé Bofina, administrator of the “Camp des Polices Militaires” market, testified to the violence of the fire: “The houses and the tables are made of wood, when the wind blows, the fire spreads from one house to another. and from one table to another. It is impossible to give the exact number of victims. We receive them continuously. Otherwise, we have already recorded about forty commercial houses and nearly three hundred tables having caught fire.” The desolation is palpable among the traders who lost everything in the flames.
A shopkeeper, whose butcher’s shop was completely devastated, testifies to her loss: “I lost everything I had, among other things, a freezer, bags of semolina, fufu and corn, but also items from other people who were in my butcher’s shop.” With tears in her eyes, she expresses her distress at this irreparable loss.
Lack of emergency means:
A fundamental question arises: why was no fire-fighting vehicle able to reach the place of the fire? Unfortunately, the authorities have not yet provided a clear answer on this subject. This situation raises questions about the security infrastructures put in place and their effectiveness in such emergency situations.
Significant economic consequences:
Besides the human aspect, the fire has disastrous economic consequences. Many traders lost their only means of subsistence, their goods and their working tools. A shopkeeper testified to this double pain: “I received this bad news when I had just bought some goods in Maluku. When I arrived here, I realized that everything in the house had been consumed by fire. It’s what I just bought that I have left.”
Conclusion :
This devastating fire at the “Camp des Polices Militaires” market in Mont-Ngafula is an unprecedented tragedy for traders who lose everything overnight. The authorities must quickly respond to questions about the lack of effective means of relief in order to avoid the repetition of such tragedies in the future.. Hoping that the victims can find the necessary support to rebuild themselves, it is important to emphasize the importance of solidarity in such situations and to support initiatives aimed at helping the victims of this disaster