Market fire raged for five hours

Traders in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, are counting their losses following a huge fire that destroyed parts of the country’s biggest open-air market this morning. The fire at Bakara market burnt for more than five hours before it was contained. It broke out at around 04:00 local time, but it was not until daybreak that a […]

Traders in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, are counting their losses following a huge fire that destroyed parts of the country’s biggest open-air market this morning. The fire at Bakara market burnt for more than five hours before it was contained.

It broke out at around 04:00 local time, but it was not until daybreak that a combined force of local authorities, residents and some private firms with their own standby fire engines began battling it. According to residents, the inferno started at a section famous for household goods and quickly spread to other parts. Although no official estimate was immediately given, it is expected the losses will run into the millions of dollars.