Malakal-bound boat catches fire in Juba

JUBA – A Malakal-bound boat ferrying 50 barrels of petrol and other valuable commodities has caught fire in Juba’s Hai Gabati on Thursday destroying 50 barrels of Petrol and other commodities.

The exact estimate of the costs of the commodities was not immediately made available but an eyewitness said the boat had packets of cigarettes, sacks of sugar, and sweets among many other goods that were being transported to Malakal.

Garang Luka told City Review that the flame started after the tank of the boat suddenly exploded due to overheating from direct sunlight.

Luka added that they managed to offload only eight barrels of petrol before the flame ravaged through the boat and burnt all other items to ashes.

“The fire started at around 11 am when I was outside but my friend was the one who was inside the boat when the fire started,” Luka said.

“I told him to come out so first. We were only two people when the boat took off,” he added.

Abdul Michael, the captain of the fire brigade in Central Equatoria State said the firefighters were incapacitated to quell the flames as Carbon dioxide ran out.

“We will find out who the owner is after we finish putting off the fire is off, but now the problem is that that fire is still continuing despite the efforts we have put in to extinguish the fire but it is still burning the fire brigades are now empty,” he said as the blaze continues.

Thiik thiik Mayardit, Deputy Mayor who is in charge of peace, infrastructure, and development, said that the fire started when he was at the airport.

“I saw smoke and I thought probably it was children playing but when I heard the fire brigade rushing to the same location where the fire was then I realized it was something serious so we decided to come and see,” he said.

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