By Daniel Bampoe
A quiet morning in Kodjona, a suburb of Odumase Krobo in the Eastern Region, turned into a scene of tragedy after a devastating fire claimed the lives of a husband and wife, leaving their four-year-old son battling for survival.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, has sent shockwaves through the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, with residents grappling with the sudden loss of two lives under heartbreaking circumstances.
According to officials, the fire is believed to have started around 6:30 a.m., at a time when the family had begun their daily routine.
Preliminary accounts indicate that the woman was preparing to wash clothes, while her husband had stepped out briefly to purchase insecticide to address a bedbug infestation in their home.
Moments later, the situation escalated into a deadly blaze that engulfed the house, trapping the occupants inside.
The Zonal Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Alormenyo Joycelyn Dansowaa, said she received a distress call at about 7:15 a.m. and immediately rushed to the scene.
Upon arrival, she alerted personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service in Somanya, who responded swiftly and managed to contain the fire.
Despite the rapid intervention, the couple could not be saved.
They were later transported to the Atua Government Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Their bodies have since been deposited at the hospital’s morgue pending autopsy.
Their young son, who was also caught in the blaze, survived but sustained critical injuries. He is currently receiving medical treatment, with his condition described as serious.
The tragic event drew the attention of local authorities, including the Municipal Chief Executive for Lower Manya Krobo, John Atter Matey, who visited the scene to assess the situation.
Officers from the Odumase Krobo Police Station were also present to secure the area and assist with necessary procedures following the incident.
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, investigations have commenced to determine what may have triggered the outbreak.
Authorities have, in the meantime, urged residents to remain vigilant and adhere to fire safety precautions to prevent similar tragedies.
