The local authorities in Gogrial West County on Wednesday said 500 shops burned in Mayom Totin Market in Alek North Payam last weekend.
In 2022, the same market burned to the ground with some people suspecting arson while others blamed generators for the fire, which left local traders counting losses.
Gogrial West County Commissioner Victor Wek Koordit told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that security forces have failed to trace the suspected arsonist.
“Mayom Totin Market in North Payam was completely burned at night last weekend. The market was not surveyed, and all shops were locally built and thatched with grass. The fire started in one of the shops, and there was too much wind that night, which spread the fire quickly to other shops,” he explained. “The police investigations are ongoing and but no evidence has been found yet on how it started. This is not the first time it happened. During my time as commissioner in 2022, the market was burned by an unknown person, and local traders incurred a lot of losses, and no suspect was identified.”
“I told my local officials to form a committee and survey the market and nearby places to avoid such a tragic incident because if the traders rebuild the market randomly again using local materials, it will again burn,” Commissioner Wek added.
He said surveying the market will help by creating roads and spaces between the shops to stop the spread of fire.
For his part, Samuel Yel Deng, the Alek North Payam administrator, confirmed the incident.
“The fire erupted at night and burned over 500 shops and restaurants, and all goods were destroyed,” he said. “I formed a committee to register the losses incurred by traders, but they have not yet reported their findings.”
Meanwhile, Deng Mayuot, a trader who doubles as the chairperson of the local chamber of commerce, said it is hard to estimate and quantify loses caused by the fire.
The affected traders urged the government to help them restore their businesses.
Jennifer Mayok, the owner of a restaurant in Mayom Totin, says she lost all her cooking utensils and furniture.
“I have a restaurant in Mayom Totin Market and all my crockeries, chairs, and tables were burned,” she lamented.