The Kwapong Nursing Training College in the Asunafo South District of the Ahafo Region has been gutted by fire.
Reports suggest that students were seen rushing to safety as part of the Nursing Training College caught fire.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), they received a distress call at 7:12 a.m., with the Kukuom fire crew arriving shortly around 7:30 a.m.
Other firefighters joined later, with the blaze brought under control by 8:45 a.m. and completely quenched at 10:26 a.m.
Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) investigations indicate that the fire began in one of the rooms on the first floor of a one-storey dormitory block before spreading.
The fire destroyed the roof, ceiling, personal belongings, books, beds, and bedding, with two fire extinguishers exploding.
Meanwhile, no casualties were recorded in the Kwapong Nursing Training College fire.
In related fire outbreak news, 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.
