{
  "id": 11921031,
  "title": "Fire guts shops at Koforidua Srodae, suspect arrested for allegedly looting",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/fire-guts-shops-at-koforidua-srodae-suspect-arrested-for-allegedly",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T11:49:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "3News",
    "slug": "3news",
    "url": "https://3news.com/news/fire-guts-shops-at-koforidua-srodae-suspect-arrested-for-allegedly-looting"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A fire ripped through shops and residential properties at Srodae, located in Koforidua's Central Business District. Emergency crews swiftly extinguished the blaze, averting further damage to surrounding buildings. The blaze broke out on the night of October 3, 2026, around 11:02 p.m., after a resident reported smoke emerging from a nearby structure. A team of ten firefighters, led by Sergeant Second Class Nartey, responded to the call at 11:15 p.m. and found the entire one-story building ablaze. Despite the intense inferno, the brave firefighters managed to bring the fire under control by 1:23 a.m. and fully extinguish it by 3:04 a.m. The inferno caused significant destruction, including the loss of personal belongings, electrical equipment, and various consumer items. In its weakened state, the building's first floor collapsed entirely, while sections of the ground floor partially collapsed. Concerned authorities are calling for the demolition of the affected building, citing safety risks. Additionally, a 25-year-old man was apprehended at the scene for allegedly looting during the fire incident. The Eastern Regional Police Command confirmed his arrest and urged them to face legal consequences.",
  "summary": "Fire has destroyed several shops at Srodae near the Old Traffic Light in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region, with firefighters managing to contain the blaze before it spread to adjoining shops.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Starr FM",
        "title": "Koforidua: Fire destroys shops, homes; firefighter injured",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/koforidua-fire-destroys-shops-homes-firefighter-injured",
        "published": "2026-10-04T10:24:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Fire tears through shops, residential properties in Koforidua",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/fire-tears-through-shops-residential-properties-in-koforidua",
        "published": "2026-10-04T12:25:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}