A 50-year-old man was burnt to death when fire engulfed his house in Aweil town in South Sudan’s Aweil State on Monday, a local official said.

Ker Deng, the Mayor of Aweil Town, told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that preliminary investigations indicate the man forgot to blow out a candle he had placed near his bed.

The town mayor further said more thorough investigations into the incident are ongoing. He urged "everyone to take extra care when using candles".

Separately, the mayor said the security situation in this festive period remains “generally calm and peaceful” with no major incidents so far recorded in Aweil town.

“The security situation is calm and our citizens are very happy because they are moving freely,” he said.

Last week, police authorities in Aweil State announced a special security plan during the Christmas holiday.