Arua City Couple Burnt to Death in Tragic Petrol Fire Incident
Police in Arua City are currently investigating a devastating incident in which a newly married couple lost their lives due to a petrol fire. The victims have been identified as Lillian Anguezaru Fungaro, 20, and her husband Emmanuel Adima, 30. The incident occurred on Tuesday night at their residential house, just two weeks after their wedding.
According to witnesses, the couple’s screams for help woke up the neighbors at around 11pm. By the time they rushed outside, they found their house engulfed in flames. Sadly, Anguezaru lost her life at the scene, while Adima managed to escape but succumbed to his severe burns the following day at Arua Regional Referral Hospital.
Francis Abiti, a neighbor, recounts the distressing events, stating, We heard them screaming inside their house for help at around 11pm and when we came out to find what was happening, we found fire burning inside the house and we couldn’t do anything. Abiti also alleges that Adima had been involved in smuggling fuel from the neighboring DR Congo, although this claim remains unverified.
Josephine Angucia, the Police spokesperson for the West Nile region, explained that the Regional Fire Brigade arrived at the scene at 11:43pm. Tragically, they discovered that Anguezaru had already been fatally burned. However, they were able to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to neighboring buildings.
Preliminary investigations carried out by the Police indicate that the fire was caused by the ignition of a matchbox inside the house, which had become saturated with petrol fumes. This incident highlights a recurring problem in the region, as cases of petrol infernos caused by smuggling activities continue to pose a threat.
Local authorities in the West Nile region attribute the prevalence of such incidents to the rampant smuggling of fuel from South Sudan and DR Congo, facilitated by porous and illegal entry points. This issue must be urgently addressed to prevent further loss of life and property.
Tragically, this is not the first time such a heartbreaking incident has occurred. Last year in August, Agnes Omveku and her two-year-old son, Emmanuel Trinity, lost their lives in a similar petrol inferno in Maracha Town Council, Maracha district. Furthermore, in September 2021, Kassim Ajo, a South Sudanese national, perished while attempting to save his fuel from a grass-thatched house that had caught fire in Koboko district.
As investigations into this recent tragedy continue, the Arua City community mourns the loss of a young couple with promising futures, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures and enhanced safety awareness regarding the handling and storage of flammable substances. The lives lost in such incidents serve as a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from negligence or unsafe practices.
Authorities are called upon to strengthen efforts to combat fuel smuggling and improve safety standards in the region. It is vital that the community comes together to raise awareness, prioritize safety, and protect one another from the devastating effects of petrol fires.
Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of Lillian Anguezaru Fungaro and Emmanuel Adima during this difficult time. May they rest in eternal peace, and may their tragic loss serve as a catalyst for change and increased vigilance within the community.
