Khost blaze leaves 350 shops in ruins

KHOST CITY (PAN): A fire that broke out in a marketplace in southeastern Khost province destroyed at least 350 shops south of the provincial capital, officials said on Friday.

The blaze that erupted in a nearby wood stall in the wee hours of Friday spread to several others shops, police chief, Brig. Gen. Sardar Mohammad Zazai, said adding there were no casualties.

Property loss would be known after an investigation into the incident was completed, he said. The cause behind the fire was unknown as yet.

Gul Karim, a shopkeeper, said the fire gutted all items worth about 500,000 afghanis ($10,119.4) inside his shop. He asked the government to arrest those responsible for the incident.

frm/ma