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YAMBIO - 5 Mar 2021

19 hunters suffer burn injuries in Yambio

At least 19 hunters are nursing severe burn wounds at Yambio State Hospital of Western Equatoria State after a fire they set while hunting overwhelmed them on Tuesday afternoon in Gangura Payam of Yambio County.   

The hunters are said to have lit the bush fire to disorient wild animals before they started hunting. Unfortunately, the fire blazed fast and razed the place where the hunters took cover, injuring them in the process.

James Sakia, a resident of the area told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday: “Yes, in the morning the fire was burning. The victims went there at noon and the fire was too much so they got burned. They were 19 in number. What happened is very bad because there were family members amongst the wounded. This has traumatized people."

Meanwhile, Yambio Hospital Medical Director Dr. Kumba Victor said they are treating the 19 hunters.

He noted that four of those injured are in critical condition and need to be referred to Juba Teaching Hospital for further treatment.

“We have received several patients brought in by ambulances and those people were caught by fire flames. They are 19 with burn wounds on the faces, chests, and legs," Dr. Victor said. 

During the dry season, hunters in the region travel deep in the forests to hunt wild animals for commercial purposes.

Attempts to reach the wildlife authorities in the state were unsuccessful.