Lack of firefighting equipment in South Sudan’s Yei River State will make it extremely difficult to contain fire outbreaks in residential and commercial areas, an official said on Wednesday.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, the state civil defense director, Emmanuel Wani said they lack fire extinguishers and mobile trucks.

“We don’t have mobile trucks to move from one place to another and even hand-held fire extinguishers and now [that] Yei town is growing, the area is vulnerable for the fight of any outbreak of fire within the city center or even in residential areas,” he said.

According to the police, more than 30 shops were, for unknown reasons, completely burnt down last week as investigations continue.

Wani, however, said the Sobe market incident would have been contained if the state had in place proper firefighting equipment.

“Due to lack of fire fighters, the trained personnel were unable to rescue the burning shops at Sobe market last Sunday,” he stressed.

The official expressed concerns over the mushrooming fuel stations in Yei town, saying firefighting equipment was needed for emergency responses.

He called for public awareness creation, through local radio stations, to inform the public on fire outbreaks in homes as well as public places.