The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the National Security have revealed that the Kumasi China City Mall will be pulled down following a devastating fire.
According to NADMO and the National Security, they are working to clear the rubble of the China City Mall in Kumasi after a massive fire gutted the facility.
The China City Mall, located at Santasi and opened just six months ago and was consumed by the blaze on Thursday afternoon, with the fire quickly spreading through the mall, with thick smoke visible from a distance.
The Ghana National Fire Service worked to control the blaze, but the mall, which contained shops selling groceries, electronics, and home items, was completely lost, with millions of dollars of goods being destroyed following the devastating fire.
An eyewitness recounted, “I was returning from class when I saw smoke coming from the back of the mall. We rushed to the scene and called the firefighters, who said they were on their way”.
Regional Fire Commander ACFO Peter Tettey at the scene explained, “We can’t enter because the building may collapse soon. They were on break when the fire started. Highly combustible items and the building’s own flammable materials caused the fire to spread quickly”.
Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, “We have called for DRIP machines to help bring in more water and assist with pulling down the structure.”
Meanwhile, the Kumasi Mayor pledges support after the China City Mall fire.
He expressed deep regret over the fire that devastated the China City Mall at Santasi.
Speaking to the media, the Kumasi Mayor stated, “It is unfortunate that we have lost millions of dollars out of this fire, and it is sad. The owners, I am told, are out of the country, but their workers and representatives are here.
“We will try as much as possible to speak to the investors as early as feasible, calm them, and offer them the nation’s support. These are foreign nationals who have come to invest in our country. They employ hundreds of our youth, so we will do whatever we have to do to assist them, if possible, to come back.”
“The fire department was able to evacuate all the staff. All the workers, with the help of bystanders, were able to evacuate. What we have is the losses that we have,” he added.
