A husband and wife have lost their lives in a devastating fire at Kodjonya, a suburb of Odumase-Krobo in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, after reportedly attempting to treat a bedbug infestation with petrol.
The Somanya Office of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded to a distress call early Tuesday morning and quickly dispatched a fire tender to the scene. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control, but tragically, the couple could not be rescued.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire ignited when petrol used for pest control came into contact with an exposed electrical source. The Somanya Municipal Fire Commander, DOII Abubakar Musah, explained that the room where the couple was trapped was barricaded with burglar-proof bars, leaving no alternative escape route.
“The room was secured on all sides, making it virtually impossible to exit during the fire,” DOII Musah said. He added that a gas cylinder in the room exploded, intensifying the blaze and leaving the victims beyond recognition.
Authorities are warning the public against using petrol or other flammable fuels for pest control and are urging landlords and homeowners to ensure residential buildings include emergency exits to prevent similar tragedies.
The couple’s remains have been taken to the Atua Government Hospital morgue for preservation and further investigation.
