Firefighters have fully extinguished a devastating blaze that tore through the Dansoman Market early Friday, leaving one child dead and several structures destroyed, officials said.
The Ghana National Fire Service said it received the distress call at 12:02 a.m., with the first crew arriving two minutes later to find the fire already spreading rapidly. Reinforcements were immediately requested, prompting the deployment of eight fire engines from stations across the capital, along with two private water tankers from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
Fire crews mounted a coordinated attack, confining the blaze by 1:51 a.m. and bringing it under control by 3:03 a.m. Overhauling continued for hours until the fire was fully extinguished at 5:21 a.m.
An 8-year-old girl trapped inside the burning market area died in the flames. Fire officials said her charred remains have been handed over to police for preservation and further investigation.
The inferno destroyed numerous wooden structures and shops along with their contents, though firefighters managed to save several adjoining properties from complete loss.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, and investigations are underway.