Idabato firestorm render over 300 homeless

A horrific fire disaster has destroyed more than 100 homes, killing a five- year-old child and injuring more than two persons at the Idabato Sub-Division of the Bakassi Peninsula.

This tragic incident occurred on 28th December 2014 at the Shell Crick, a locality at Idabato in the Bakassi Peninsula of the Ndian Division, in the South West Region of Cameroon.

Eye witness reports state that the incident occurred as a result of negligence of a certain woman who after having smoked her fish, forgot to put out the fire and went to sleep.

This unbearable situation rendered more than 300 persons homeless.

The Senior Divisional Officer for Ndian, Chamberlain Ntou’o Ndong and his close collaborators visited the disaster site to evaluate the damages and comfort the victims.

From his evaluation, a substantial material damages have been recorded.

This incident is not the first of its kind in the Idabato Sub Division.

In November 2012, a fire disaster occurred burning down 12 houses to ruins still from this negligent attitude of a fisherman whom after having smoked his fish forgot to put out the fire and went to sleep.

Reports also say that firestorms in this area is rampant.

A fire incident can occur about twice a month and a year given that 90% of the inhabitants of this area are fishermen and are always into the business of smoking fish and living in houses constructed with thatch and wood easy to be set ablaze.

This incident comes at a time when the government’s plans to rehabilitate the Bakassi Peninsula is a priority.