A 70-year-old woman died and several properties were destroyed after a fire swept through a section of Suame Magazine in the Ashanti Region in the early hours of Saturday, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has confirmed.

The commercial fire broke out at Zone 18 near the garages area of Suame Magazine in Kumasi, one of the country’s largest industrial and automobile repair hubs.

According to the fire service, a distress call was received at approximately 3:22 AM reporting a fire involving structures, vehicles, and vehicle spare parts. Personnel from the Breman and Komfo Anokye fire stations were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, firefighters found the blaze had already spread extensively, engulfing three wooden structures, three metal containers, four vehicles, and nine DAF vehicle engines. Emergency responders deployed both offensive and defensive firefighting operations, bringing the fire under control within 25 minutes before fully extinguishing it using water and foam.

The victim, identified as Bawama Naya, became trapped in the blaze and died at the scene. Her body has since been handed over to the police for preservation and further investigation into the incident.

Fire officials noted that the prompt intervention of the firefighting teams successfully saved several other vehicles from destruction, including three Sprinter buses, a Smiling Benz bus, and an Opanka bus.

Authorities stated that the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.