Two women were killed and three children were wounded in a fire in Abu Matarik Locality of East Darfur State. The fire on Tuesday destroyed a number of houses and also killed cattle.

Eyewitness Mohammed Ali Hamid said from the scene that the fire broke out at about the 11:00 am and quickly spread due to wind, killing two elderly women and a number of cows and sheep.

Hamid added that villagers were able to extinguish the fire on their own, complaining that civil defense forces in the town did not come to their aid.

“The incident occurred just during breakfast time. Fire brigade forces didn’t come on time. They arrived after two to three hours. The fire was extinguished by local people including girl students in the area,” he said.