One dead, several injured in Abotaose Market fire

One person has been confirmed dead, while several others have sustained severe burns after a fire outbreak at the Abotaose Market in the Biakoye District of the Oti Region. The fire, which occurred at about 2 p.m. on Saturday, reportedly started after a premix fuel storage facility allegedly came into contact with a household fire, before spreading to parts of the market and destroying some structures. A victim who was sleeping in a nearby shed at the time of the incident was trapped in the flames and sustained severe burns. He was rushed to the Worawora Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Several others who also sustained varying degrees of burns have been transported to the same facility and are receiving treatment. The cause of the fire is yet to be officially established, as investigations are ongoing. However, the Acting District Fire Officer for Biakoye, ADOI Desmond Addo, told Citi News that preliminary investigations suggest the storage of premix fuel at the market may have contributed to the outbreak. The fire was eventually brought under control with the help of volunteers. However, concerns have been raised about the time it took for professional firefighters to arrive at the scene, with personnel having to travel from Dambai and Kpando to the affected community. Source: Citinewsroom (https://www.citinewsroom.com/2026/08/one-dead-several-injured-in-abotaose-market-fire/)