A fire in the Paloch area of Melut County, Upper Nile State, has destroyed multiple civilian properties, with local authorities citing negligence and strong winds as contributing factors. No casualties were reported.
The blaze broke out on Saturday in a residential home near Al Jou market after a woman reportedly left children unattended while handling a domestic task in the kitchen, according to Yohanna Monybai, director of Paloch Payam.
High winds rapidly spread flames to nearby homes, engulfing structures built with local materials.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, Monybai said oil companies operating in the area provided critical support by deploying two water tankers to contain the fire.
“Their swift response prevented a larger disaster,” he emphasized, noting that the flames were stopped before reaching nearby oil wells.
While property losses were described as “huge,” Monybai confirmed no lives were lost. He added that a committee had been established to assess damages and draft preventative measures, though he acknowledged resource constraints.
“Citizens cannot build houses with strong materials. Even the kitchen where the fire started was made of local materials.”
Melut County police director Deng Bech confirmed the fire’s “significant” impact and said legal proceedings had been initiated to determine accountability. “Initial investigations into the cause are underway,” he stated, reiterating that no fatalities occurred.