A fierce fire outbreak has destroyed several container shops at Bibiani New Town in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region, leaving traders counting their losses.

The blaze, which started around 3:50 p.m., swept through about six container shops, including two hair salons, two restaurants, a seamstress shop, and a footwear shop.

Municipal Fire Commander DO2 Enock Tetteh told the media that his team responded swiftly after receiving a distress call. Firefighters managed to contain and extinguish the flames before they spread to nearby properties.

“The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation,” he said, urging residents and business owners to handle electrical and gas appliances with care to prevent similar incidents.

Some affected shop owners alleged that the fire may have been triggered by a gas cylinder explosion in one of the restaurants before spreading rapidly to adjoining shops.

No casualties were reported, but property worth thousands of cedis was destroyed. The Ghana National Fire Service has since launched an investigation into the incident.