A fire broke out on the night of Friday, March 20, 2026, in Koumassi , specifically in the Sopim-Virage neighborhood. While thankfully there were no casualties, the material damage is considerable, leaving several families destitute.

A short circuit after three days of power outage

According to eyewitness accounts, the fire appears to have been caused by an electrical fault. It reportedly broke out shortly after power was restored, following a three-day outage affecting the neighborhood.

The main source of the fire was a house that was unoccupied at the time. Intense heat and thick smoke quickly alerted the neighbors, but the flames spread with lightning speed to the three adjacent houses.

Did you know? It was the local residents who tried to contain the blaze with whatever means they had on hand before the arrival of the emergency services, obtaining water as best they could from the surrounding area.

Lives shattered in minutes

The material losses are significant for the victims, who saw their memories and belongings go up in smoke:

1. Administrative documents destroyed.
2. Household appliances and furniture were charred.
3. Lost personal effects and merchandise inventory.

Mrs. Kadjo Marie-Claude , the property owner and widow, learned the news while she was in Bingerville. For her, this house represented her sole source of income.

A call for national solidarity

Among the most affected victims is Ms. Sangné Barrakissa . This mother of four, who has a disability, owes her life to the courageous intervention of young people from the neighborhood who helped her evacuate.

Now homeless and without resources, these families are issuing a cry for help:

1. To the municipal authorities of Koumassi for emergency assistance.
2. To humanitarian organizations for donations of essential goods.
3. To all those willing to help with the reconstruction.