The fire which ravaged the Agoe Assiyéyé market in Lomé plunged the entire trading community into disarray. The flames, which spread quickly, reduced warehouses and traders’ stalls to ashes. A heartbreaking scene which attracted many curious people who came to see the damage.
The first testimonies collected on site demonstrate the distress of the traders. Some point the finger at the lack of reaction from the firefighters, who would have taken time to arrive on the scene. “Normally, the fire brigade must be next to the market, to react immediately in the event of a problem. But apparently, that was not the case here. The whole market went up in flames, it’s unacceptable” laments a seller of poultry.
Faced with the disaster, the mayor of the commune of Agoe-Nyivé 1 and some local personalities went there to try to appease the traders. A crisis unit has also been set up to help traders affected by this fire.
The Togolese government has expressed its compassion towards the traders affected by this devastating fire. In a press release, he reported “three-quarters of the market area consumed” by the flames.
This dramatic incident raises many questions about the security of markets and infrastructure in Togo. The authorities will have to learn lessons from this disaster in order to strengthen prevention and response measures in the event of fire.
Despite this tragedy, the spirit of solidarity and mutual aid was also visible, with goodwill coming to the aid of the affected traders. A surge of solidarity that reminds us of the strength of the community in difficult times.
In conclusion, the fire that ravaged the Agoe Assiyéyé market in Lomé left a considerable impact on the trading community. This tragic event highlights the need to strengthen security measures in the country’s commercial infrastructure. While expressing their compassion towards the victims, the authorities will have to take necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.