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Gambia News: Twins Die in Inferno

SRC: Foroyaa, Gambia . Adama and Awa Boye, four months old twins died in a fire incident in their parents house at Bijilo on Saturday, September 29.

According to their father, Essa Boye, the fire was caused by a burning candle in the room where the children were lying. The aggrieved father told Foroyaa that he believe that the bed net in which the twins laid under caught fire after it was blown by the wind towards the burning candle.

Haddy Konneh, spokeswoman of The Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service, said the unfortunate incident occurred around 21:00 hours, when both parents were sitting outside after breaking their fast. She attributed the cause of the inferno to the burning candle in the house. Konneh said though the fire was extinguished by neighbours, the fire brigades in Kotu were lately called. Konneh also said the twin victims were rushed to a health centre in Sukuta where they were pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of The Gambia Police Force, Inspector Sulayman Secka, told Foroyaa that a coroner has authorized an autopsy and the deceaseds are currently at the mortuary at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH).

The fire service spokeswoman has urged the public to master the necessary telephone numbers in case an emergency erupts. Konneh dismissed the view that the brigades are most of the time late to arrive at scenes of fire outbreaks. A mobile phone hotline, 18, can reach the fire and ambulance service when needed.