|
Note: You must be registered in order to post a reply.
To register, click here. Registration is FREE!
|
| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 25 Feb 2020 : 12:14:02
Very sad for the market vendors and people who's properties are destroyed. May the all mighty help them restore their lives quickly.
Basse Market Catches Fire
February 24, 2020
By Lamin Fatty reporting from Basse
https://foroyaa.gm/basse-market-catches-fire/
The Basse Market in the Upper River Region has caught fire in the evening of Monday, 24th February 2020.
Fire fighters and people living around the market were seen rushing to the market to put off the fire. Several police officers were deployed to the market to ensure that there was no looting by people.
At the time of going to press, the authorities on the ground couldn’t ascertain the cause of the fire as they were all busy putting off the fire. Foroyaa tried to speak to those whose shops were burnt but they couldn’t speak to the press because they were in a confused state.
Basse is the major town in the Upper River Region (URR) where the Governor’s Office and the Area Council are located. The market is one of the major markets in the area and the busiest in the URR.
Our reporter was at the scene and we will give you a detailed report in our subsequent publication.
|
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 29 Feb 2020 : 16:23:39
https://standard.gm/over-half-a-billion-dalasis-perished-in-basse-market-inferno-bac-chairman/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By Momodu Torp February 27, 2020
Following a rapid assessment of the Monday evening fire that gutted Basse central market, the chairman of the regional area council has put the damages at D571,597,000,551.
Chairman Foday Danjo told The Standard that Vice President Isatou Touray visited the scene and informed the Basse community that President Barrow and the Minister of Finance have discussed with the Ministry of Works and Gamworks the urgent rebuilding of the market.
“A rapid assessment was done recently and the approximated amount of cost of perished items in the fire is D571,597,000,551. The number of victims is about 617 and over 388 shops were burnt,” he added.
Chairman Danjo could not say how much it would cost to rebuild the market and when the works would start but said the details would be clearer after the president’s visit.
He also confirmed that President Barrow has donated D270,000; Ousainu Darboe D400,000 and Mamma Kandeh D200,000 as relief for the victims.
He appealed to the government, non-governmental organisations and others to aid the victims.
Chairman Danjo also confirmed that agents of the SIS and police have mounted investigations to establish the cause of the fire.
Lack of hydrants
Meanwhile, the regional deputy spokesman of the Gambia Fire and Rescue Services Sub-Officer Amadou FM Njie, said the blaze was exacerbated by the lack of fire hydrants.
“The entire market surrounding has no fire hydrant. The only available hydrant is at the Mansajang Fire Station which is far away from Basse Santo-Su where the market is,” he lamented in Basse.
According to him, the closest fire hydrant was condemned by some unknown community members. “If there was a hydrant at the market, we would not have called Senegal to come and help us to fight the fire. About 90 percent of fire incidents in Basse and other surroundings are worsened by lack of fire hydrants. The government should look into the issue as a matter of urgency. It is very important to have at least one fire hydrant in every community,” Sub-Officer Njie advised.
He also said the local fire engine was too small and that was why they had to request help from Bansang, the Chinese station in Basse, and Senegalese firefighters.
He said another major hurdle was that the fire started around the centre of the market and the spot could not be easily reached as the market was cluttered with canteens and tables.
“Consequently, we had to use bulldozers to create access,” he explained.
“So far, nearly a dozen suspected shop looters are in police custody after being arrested at the scene while the fire was being put off,” he concluded.
|
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 29 Feb 2020 : 11:52:29
https://foroyaa.gm/vice-president-mama-kandeh-commiserate-with-basse-market-fire-disaster-victims/
=========================================================================================================================
By Lamin Fatty on February 28, 2020
The Vice President of Republic of the Gambia Dr. Isatou Touray commiserated with victims of Basse market fire disaster, when she visited them on Tuesday February 25th 2020.
Vice President Touray said she was sent by President Barrow to commiserate with the victims and to see and assess the level of destruction by herself.
“This morning, the President called me to rush here to commiserate with victims and to express his feelings and sentiments on this unfortunate incident that has happened, and to inform you that he will build a new market that will respond to new responsibilities that the new Gambia demands,’’ VP Touray told the victims.
Dr. Touray expressed her appreciation to the efforts of the security forces, Chinese team, Senegalese fire fighters and all other actors during the inferno, on behalf the President; that by looking at the solidarity and support from everyone, one should know that the Gambia belongs to all citizens.
“It is obvious that the amount of destruction seen can be quantified in millions and millions of dalasi. Hence I appeal to everyone including philanthropists and those with the heart and the means to assist the people of Basse,” VP Touray said.
In the same development, Mama Kandeh, leader of Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) expressed his wish to build a better market for the people of Basse if he was able to. He however presented a cash donation of D200,000 to Selu Bah, the Alkalo of Basse for the victims of the Basse market inferno on Tuesday February 25th 2020.
Kandeh told the Alkalo of Basse that the donated cash amount is not for the Basse Area Council or the Government of the Gambia but strictly for victims of the fire disaster. He also seized the opportunity to call on everyone to contribute their quota to assist the victims and advised them (victims) to be transparent with whatever that comes for them.
Selu Bah, the Alkalo Basse on behalf of the victims thanked Mama Kandeh for what he called his magnanimity. |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 28 Feb 2020 : 20:56:03
Well said mbay,I am certain that many prayers will be said,help is desperatly needed for all those involved and their families.
quote:
Originally posted by mbay
Oh my people our praying are with youall,Together we fall and together we stand.we grow up with this market indeed sad.
|
| mbay |
Posted - 28 Feb 2020 : 19:01:37
Oh my people our praying are with youall,Together we fall and together we stand.we grow up with this market indeed sad. |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 28 Feb 2020 : 11:31:10
https://standard.gm/over-half-a-billion-dalasis-perished-in-basse-market-inferno-bac-chairman/
By Momodu Torp February 27, 2020
Following a rapid assessment of the Monday evening fire that gutted Basse central market, the chairman of the regional area council has put the damages at D571,597,000,551.
Chairman Foday Danjo told The Standard that Vice President Isatou Touray visited the scene and informed the Basse community that President Barrow and the Minister of Finance have discussed with the Ministry of Works and Gamworks the urgent rebuilding of the market.
“A rapid assessment was done recently and the approximated amount of cost of perished items in the fire is D571,597,000,551. The number of victims is about 617 and over 388 shops were burnt,” he added.
Chairman Danjo could not say how much it would cost to rebuild the market and when the works would start but said the details would be clearer after the president’s visit.
He also confirmed that President Barrow has donated D270,000; Ousainu Darboe D400,000 and Mamma Kandeh D200,000 as relief for the victims.
He appealed to the government, non-governmental organisations and others to aid the victims.
Chairman Danjo also confirmed that agents of the SIS and police have mounted investigations to establish the cause of the fire.
Lack of hydrants
Meanwhile, the regional deputy spokesman of the Gambia Fire and Rescue Services Sub-Officer Amadou FM Njie, said the blaze was exacerbated by the lack of fire hydrants.
“The entire market surrounding has no fire hydrant. The only available hydrant is at the Mansajang Fire Station which is far away from Basse Santo-Su where the market is,” he lamented in Basse.
According to him, the closest fire hydrant was condemned by some unknown community members. “If there was a hydrant at the market, we would not have called Senegal to come and help us to fight the fire. About 90 percent of fire incidents in Basse and other surroundings are worsened by lack of fire hydrants. The government should look into the issue as a matter of urgency. It is very important to have at least one fire hydrant in every community,” Sub-Officer Njie advised.
He also said the local fire engine was too small and that was why they had to request help from Bansang, the Chinese station in Basse, and Senegalese firefighters.
He said another major hurdle was that the fire started around the centre of the market and the spot could not be easily reached as the market was cluttered with canteens and tables.
“Consequently, we had to use bulldozers to create access,” he explained.
“So far, nearly a dozen suspected shop looters are in police custody after being arrested at the scene while the fire was being put off,” he concluded.
|
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 26 Feb 2020 : 16:57:06
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/300-stalls-perish-in-basse-market-inferno-7-arrested-for-looting
=========================================================================================================================
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Police in Basse in the Upper River Region have arrested seven people for looting during the Basse Market inferno on Monday which officials say destroyed over 300 stalls within the market.
The cause of the fire incident at the time of going to press is yet to be established.
The leader of The Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), Mama Kandeh has extended benevolence in the sum of D200,000 to the victims of the fire incidents.
Meanwhile, officials of the NDMA in URR, Basse Red Cross and staff of the Basse Area Council were conducting a rapid assessment with a view to establishing the scale of damage caused by the inferno.
The blaze was reported to have started around 6 p.m. Monday evening, when most of the market vendors were about to close.
The chairman of BSAC, Foday Danjo, described the inferno as ‘unbelievable’ and ‘shocking,’ saying that the council is planning at the moment to temporarily relocate the market to Koba Kunda, a surburb of Basse.
Quizzed as to the cause of the fire outbreak, the Chairman said according to some eyewitness, the cause of the inferno was the result of electricity spark. “The fire incident started from one stall within the market. The market vendors tried to control it internally but it eventually spins out of control and went on to consume over 300 stalls.”
The council, he went on, is launching an appeal from the central government, NGOs, philanthropist and individuals among others to come to the aid of the affected businessmen and women.
“Some affected individuals were entirely depending on some of these things that they sell in the market.”
Author: Momodou Jawo
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
 |
|
|
