Traders in Bor town are counting heavy losses after a fire outbreak reduced two shops to ashes in Akuotayol Market on Friday morning.
According to Bor Municipal Mayor Jacob Achiek Machar, the blaze was sparked when one of the shop owners reportedly left food boiling inside his shop before going for prayers.
The fire quickly spread to a neighboring stall, leaving both traders with nothing to salvage.
“All the items in the two shops were destroyed before locals could put out the fire,” Mayor Achiek said, estimating the destruction to be worth thousands of South Sudanese Pounds.
Eyewitnesses Deng Garang say the flames spread too fast for residents to contain with water.
“By the time people rushed in to help, the fire had already consumed everything,” said Deng Garang, a trader at the market.
Although no lives were lost, the affected shop owners now face devastating setbacks, having lost both their stock and sources of income.
They are appealing for assistance from the state government and well-wishers to recover from the tragedy.
This latest incident comes just months after a fire at Marol Market destroyed dozens of shops and claimed the life of a child.
With back-to-back disasters, Bor traders say they can no longer cope with the recurring losses, warning that repeated market fires are eroding their livelihoods and pushing families deeper into hardship.
Akuotayol Market, one of Bor’s busiest centers, remains prone to such disasters due to overcrowding, unsafe practices, and the absence of firefighting facilities.
