Duazon, Lower Margibi County — An eight-year-old girl has died following a late-night fire outbreak in the Goshen Community in Duazon, Margibi County.
By Yawah Y. Jaivey
According to eyewitness accounts, a four-bedroom house occupied by Samaritama Girls Liberia—a safe home for sexually abused girls—was engulfed in flames late Monday night.
The victim has been identified as Jacklerline Bannie. The home’s caretaker, Nowai Pshorr, said the incident occurred around 11:00 p.m.
She explained that the girls were already in bed when she heard them screaming. Upon exiting her room, she discovered the house filled with thick smoke and flames.
Pshorr said the other girls managed to escape from their rooms, but efforts to rescue Jacklerline were unsuccessful.
One of the survivors, a 15-year-old girl, recounted waking up to find their room heavily filled with smoke.
She said she attempted to wake Jacklerline but was unable to do so due to the intense heat and thick smoke, forcing her to flee the burning building.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection along with ActionAid Liberia, responded to the incident.
The victim’s body was later turned over to her family, in the presence of the community chairman, to begin funeral arrangements.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire amid an ongoing investigation.
