Thick black smoke billowed into the Kanifing skyline on Friday as flames tore through scrap buses parked at the Gambia Transport Service Corporation (GTSC) depot, forcing firefighters to battle an intense blaze amid dry vegetation and scattered tyres.
The fire, which broke out at the rear of the depot where decommissioned buses are stored, drew residents and commuters to a halt as fire and rescue officers scrambled to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to operational vehicles and nearby structures.
GTSC management said the fire was man-made and originated from actions taken by a contractor hired to fence the scrapyard.
Speaking at the scene, Ba Lamin Darboe, Deputy General Manager of the Gambia Transport Service Corporation, said the incident occurred during land-clearing works at the back of the depot.
“We were trying to secure the scrapyard by building a fence,” he said.
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