A massive blaze has gutted the newly opened China City Mall at Santasi in Kumasi, destroying the entire building and goods worth thousands of cedis.
The fire, which broke out on Thursday, October 30, quickly swept through the commercial facility, leaving behind widespread devastation and thick plumes of smoke visible from afar.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the cause of the inferno is yet to be determined, though initial reports indicate it may have started at the rear of the building before spreading rapidly throughout the mall.
“We received a distress call and dispatched two fire tenders to the scene immediately. Our team worked relentlessly to contain the blaze,” a GNFS officer told MyJoyOnline.
Despite their efforts, the entire structure—home to several shops dealing in home accessories, electronics, and groceries—was completely consumed.
Officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) confirmed that no casualties have been recorded, though several traders lost all their stock.
The mall, opened earlier in 2025, had quickly become a popular shopping hub for residents of Kumasi and nearby towns. Eyewitnesses said the fire spread too fast for anyone to rescue their goods. “It was terrifying. Within minutes, everything was gone,” a shop attendant lamented.
The GNFS has launched investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the scale of destruction.
This incident adds to a worrying surge in market and commercial property fires across Ghana’s major cities, reigniting concerns about fire safety compliance and emergency preparedness in business establishments.
Source: metrotvonline.com
