MONROVIA, LIBERIA – A preliminary investigation conducted by the Police and Company officials says fire outbreak caused by a local coal producer in Gogoima Town, Grand Cape Mount County affected the operation of Bea Mountain Mining Corporation for several hours.
According to the police, On Tuesday, January 4, 2025, a resident of Gogoima Rashidu V. Korma, instructed his son, Rachelu Vainja to clear and burn the place which is closely situated around Bea Mountain Mining Corporation Core-Yard.
In the process of burning the cleaned place, the fire extended into the Core-Yard and destroyed several properties belonging to the Company. The total cost of the destroyed items is unknown. At the moment, the police is carrying out preliminary investigation.
According to Rashidu Karmo, the prime suspect, he was given a parcel of land outside of the company’s core-yard to process charcoal. “When my brother Bomia gave me the place, I later told my son, Rachelu Vainja to clean and burn the place”.
In the process of burning the place, the fire extended and burnt the BMMC core-yard,” a statement obtained from Karmo by the police said.
However, the fire was put under control by BMMC Health & Safety, Technical and other team members of the company. Many residents who witnessed the fire outbreak described it as completely terrifying.
“One of the citizens of Gogoima said “Oh thank God the Company came with their fire truck on time and put the fire off. If the team from BMMC had not come to our rescue, the fire was going to reach our houses and burn half of them down, but we are grateful to God, and to the Management of the Company for their timely intervention to put the fire under control”
“There was so much smoke in the compound that we couldn’t even breathe, so imagine workers being in offices. I’m sure they couldn’t either,” said Isaac ZK Sasraku, Community Relations Superintendent who was on the scene.
The company said as a result of the outbreak, over fifty percent (50%) of the samples drilled from the beginning of exploration to the time the incident occurred were damaged.
Due to the seriousness of the fire outbreak, the Company’s General Manager, Mr. Engin Turhan paid an immediate visit to the site.
Meanwhile, normal work has started in the area.
