Tuesday January 6, 2026
Hargeisa (HOL) — A woman, her sister and three young children were killed early Monday when a fire tore through their home in Hargeisa, authorities said.
The blaze broke out in the 26 June district, neighborhood 150, and quickly engulfed the family’s house, which was made of corrugated iron and surrounded by similar structures, according to the Hargeisa Fire Department.
The children who died were girls aged 12, 7 and 5, fire officials said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Somaliland Police Criminal Investigation Department. Authorities have not released preliminary findings, but said investigators are examining how the blaze started.
The city’s fire chief warned that incidents linked to electrical faults and unsafe household conditions have been rising, urging residents to remain vigilant and reduce fire hazards where possible.
“We are seeing an increase in fires caused by electrical problems and unsafe environments, especially where children are present,” the fire chief said, calling for greater public awareness and preventive measures.
The Somaliland government said it had transferred $40,000 in emergency assistance to the affected family. Government officials expressed condolences and offered prayers for the victims, asking God to grant patience and strength to surviving relatives.
Deadly residential fires are not uncommon in Hargeisa, where many families live in informal housing with limited access to fire safety infrastructure. Last year, several children were killed in another blaze in the city after their father, amid a family dispute, set fire to the house where they were staying.
