LOCAL NEWS
BONG COUNTY – A commercial taxi was gutted by fire Thursday evening after it erupted in flames along the Gbarnga Boulevard in Bong County, destroying the vehicle and much of the cargo it was transporting.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
The fire broke out opposite the former Ebony Motel near the Radio Gbarnga Restaurant, drawing large crowds of onlookers and disrupting traffic as residents and motorists watched the vehicle burn.
According to one of the occupants, the blaze is believed to have started after gasoline leaked from the taxi’s fuel tank while the vehicle was traveling from Ganta to Gbarnga with a shipment of construction materials.
The three occupants quickly abandoned the vehicle and managed to remove part of the cargo before the flames spread. Among the items salvaged were zinc sheets, roofing nails, and other building supplies.
Despite their efforts, a significant portion of the construction materials was destroyed as the fire rapidly engulfed the taxi, leaving little chance of saving the remaining load.
Witnesses said all three occupants escaped safely without injuries, and no deaths were reported. Police officers later arrived at the scene and attempted to secure the area, but the vehicle had already been completely consumed by the fire.
Residents who witnessed the incident said no firefighters responded to the emergency, allowing the blaze to continue unchecked until the taxi was reduced to a charred wreck.
The exact cause of the fire has not been officially established. While one occupant suspects a fuel tank leak triggered the incident, authorities have yet to confirm the cause or issue an official statement.
