By: Emmanuel Clever Jipoh
Within the aftermath of a devastating hearth on the Sethi Brothers Inc. paint manufacturing facility on the Japan Freeway, residents of Iron Manufacturing unit Block B & C took to the streets in protest on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
The incident, which occurred practically two weeks in the past, has precipitated vital concern amongst neighborhood members about environmental air pollution and public well being dangers.
The blaze, which tore by means of the manufacturing space for over 15 hours, precipitated roughly $6-7 million in injury. The fireplace concerned extremely flammable supplies, together with oil paints, oxygen tanks, and different hazardous chemical substances.
As these substances burned, thick smoke and poisonous fumes crammed the air, shortly spreading all through the encompassing neighborhoods and inflicting widespread panic amongst residents.
Tons of of individuals residing close to the manufacturing unit have reported a major decline in air and water high quality for the reason that catastrophe. Residents have complained of persistent coughs, bloody vomiting, suffocation, and different extreme signs, notably amongst youngsters beneath the age of seven. Many imagine these well being points are straight linked to chemical publicity from the hearth.
Aloysius Wollo, a resident of the affected space, expressed frustration and concern: “Because the outbreak, individuals have been getting sick, some coughing and vomiting blood, as a result of our air has been polluted and Sethi has ignored our plights.”
This sentiment is echoed by others, together with youth chairman Vanz Williams, who reported that the Environmental Safety Company (EPA) confirmed air air pollution within the aftermath and warned of elevated dangers, comparable to lung most cancers.
Past air high quality considerations, residents say native water sources have change into contaminated. Patricia, who lives in Block C, described how, “Our faucet water now tastes metallic, and several other of our neighbors have been recognized with respiratory infections and pores and skin rashes. We are able to’t afford to remain silent any longer.”
“The smoke was thick sufficient to choke a child, and ever for the reason that hearth, my youngsters have been coughing nonstop,” mentioned Patricia, a resident of Block C.
In response to what they understand as company neglect, dozens of residents rampaged by means of the Sethi Brothers manufacturing unit on Tuesday, blocking regular operations at its subsidiary, Dura Plast. Demonstrators have issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the corporate to deal with their calls for or face additional strike actions.
The residents demanded rapid medical help and well being screenings for affected residents, complete environmental cleanup, and water testing, long-term options to stop future incidents, and larger company social duty from Sethi Brothers, together with enhancements to roads, drainage, and water infrastructure.
Moreover, protesters returned meals parcels—comparable to rice and oil—distributed by the corporate after the hearth, viewing them as makes an attempt to distract from the actual well being disaster.
“What we’d like is just not rice; what we’d like is remedy, as a result of persons are getting sick, and it causes lung most cancers,” one protester insisted.
Tensions have additionally arisen inside the neighborhood, as residents accused Block B chairman Isaac Farkarlo of accepting items from the corporate in trade for minimizing well being considerations. This has additional fueled mistrust and anger towards each the corporate and a few native leaders.
Sethi Brothers Inc. has denied any wrongdoing, with an organization spokesperson stating, “We care about them; that’s the reason we’re negotiating with their leaders and discovering an answer to the issue.”
The corporate claims it’s actively looking for a decision in partnership with neighborhood representatives.
In the meantime, the Environmental Safety Company acknowledged that, whereas a direct causal hyperlink between the hearth and reported well being points has not but been established, environmental monitoring is ongoing and public well being danger assessments might be expedited.
The EPA’s involvement offers a measure of hope for residents looking for goal evaluation and intervention. Edited by Othello B. Garblah.
