Warrap’s Sudden Inferno
Witnesses say the mid-December harmattan winds fanned a small grassfire into a fast-moving wall of flames near Ajak Kuac village, Tonj North County. Within minutes, nine women foraging for thatch were surrounded.
Local administrator Kuol Wol Jok recounts that five women succumbed before help arrived, while four suffered burns now treated at Kuajok Civil Hospital.
Voices from Tonj North
Villager Aluel Mayen, her hands bandaged, describes hearing a ‘roaring like rain on iron roofs’ as the grass ignited. She blames no one, noting that traditional land-clearing fires are common during the dry season.
County authorities confirm the blaze was not linked to conflict, cattle raids or military activity, issues that have previously unsettled Warrap.
State Response and New Measures
Governor Bol Wek Agoth expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and announced a seven-member fact-finding committee, mandated to deliver a report within 14 days.
He also imposed an immediate ban on unauthorised burning of forest and pasture, warning that violators will face penalties under existing environmental laws.
Environmental and Cultural Context
South Sudan’s dry season stretches from November to April, characterised by low humidity and strong winds that can turn small cooking fires into regional disasters, according to the Meteorological Authority.
Agricultural experts observe that demand for thatching grass peaks now as families repair tukuls before the rainy season, putting more people in fire-prone savannahs.
Looking Ahead to a Safer Dry Season
Civil society groups welcome the probe but call for longer-term solutions such as community firefighting brigades, early-warning radio bulletins and integration of fire safety into school curricula.
For now, Warrap leaders urge residents to clear firebreaks around huts, avoid lighting grass for hunting, and immediately report smoke columns to local chiefs.