Kumasi, Aug. 16, GNA - Property estimated at over one billion cedis was destroyed in the early hours of Tuesday, when some parts of the Suame Light Industrial Area (Magazine) was razed by fire. The items destroyed included six vehicles, seven mechanics shops, a corn mill, six mobile phones, an undisclosed amount of money and some personal effects.

Madam Lebele Azuma, one of the victims told the GNA that her kiosk (now burnt to ashes) served as a residential accommodation for her entire family and that at about 001 hours, members of her family heard about a fire outbreak next door and rushed out to help put out the fire.

She said no sooner had they come out of the kiosk than the fire spread to their kiosk and other adjoining shops and so they raised the alarm, which attracted many people to the scene. They tried unsuccessfully to bring the fire under control until officials from the Ghana National Fire Service appeared with a fire tenders to put it out. Master Haruna Yacubu, another victim and an auto mechanic, who lost three vehicles, said he heard about the incident only after the fire had been brought under control.

Meanwhile the Ghana National Fire Service has not been able to ascertain the cause of fire as investigations continue.