Rice boat goes up in flames at Essequibo Coast wharf

…Allegedly drunken cook blamed for blaze

A rice boat that was docked at the Fairfield Wharf in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) caught afire on Thursday at around 15:30h, throwing nearby residents and workers into pandemonium.
It is suspected that a stove left unattended overheated or caused a flare-up, leading to the fire.
Surmising that the fire may have started in the kitchen area of the boat, one resident claimed that the cook on board was under the influence of alcohol, and may have fallen asleep while a pot was left boiling on the stove.
The cook escaped without injury, the items on the boat were offloaded and saved, and police are currently investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire.
This vessel transports rice from the Essequibo Coast to other parts of the country.