SOTRA bus depot fire in Koumassi destroys 40 vehicles

A major fire destroyed a significant portion of the public transport fleet in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. During the night of September 5 to September 6, 2026, a violent blaze struck Depot 5 of the Société des transports abidjanais (SOTRA) in the Koumassi commune.

The incident resulted in 40 buses being completely destroyed by fire and 15 others sustaining varying degrees of damage, totaling 55 affected vehicles. Preliminary reports suggest the fire began around 2:00 AM on a bus undergoing maintenance, with flames subsequently spreading to nearby vehicles.

No human casualties were reported. The Groupement des sapeurs-pompiers militaires (GSPM) responded to the scene to contain the fire, supported by police and gendarmerie units who secured the perimeter. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause, whether it was a technical failure, an electrical issue, or another factor.

While SOTRA has stated it will take measures to reallocate vehicles and maintain service continuity, the loss of these vehicles represents a significant blow to the transport network serving southern Abidjan. This event follows previous incidents involving bus fires at other SOTRA depots in 2025.