The tragic incident occurred on 19 May 2026 at the residence of the Gai Kunda family, causing extensive damage to houses, food supplies, furniture, clothing and other valuable possessions.
Family members described the incident as one of the most difficult moments of their lives, saying they lost almost everything they owned within a short period.
Speaking to this reporter, Rokey Gai, a member of the affected family, said the fire was allegedly caused by an electrical fault while members of the household were away from home.
According to her, family members had travelled to welcome President Adama Barrow during his visit to Galleh Manda Village when the incident occurred.
She explained that one of the electrical appliances may have been left switched on, which is believed to have sparked the fire. The situation was reportedly worsened by the fact that seven rooms within the compound were connected to a single electricity line, allowing the flames to spread rapidly throughout the premises.
Fighting back tears, Rokey recounted the extent of the destruction, saying seven sleeping rooms and a store containing large quantities of groundnuts, millet, maize, rice and other food items were completely consumed by the fire.
“We have lost everything,” she lamented. “The rooms, food supplies, clothes and household items were all burnt. We do not have a place to sleep because the roofing was completely destroyed.”
The disaster has left the family exposed to harsh weather conditions, forcing them to spend their nights in the open as they struggle to rebuild their lives.
Another family member, Yama Gai, appealed for urgent humanitarian support, saying the family is facing immense hardship following the tragedy.
“We are appealing to the government, humanitarian organisations, philanthropists and the general public to come to our aid during this difficult time,” she said.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns about electrical safety in rural communities and the devastating impact fires can have on vulnerable families.
As the Gai Kunda family begins the difficult task of recovery, they remain hopeful that compassionate individuals, charitable organisations and government agencies will respond to their call for assistance and help them rebuild their home and restore their livelihoods.
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