Kabul’s Mandawi blaze causes nearly $700,000 in losses

KABUL (Pajhwok): A fire broke out at Mir Alam Market in Kabul’s Mandawi area on Sunday, causing nearly 700,000 US dollars in financial losses.

“The initial loss is estimated at around $700,000; however, firefighters salvaged goods worth nearly 150 million afghanis,” the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said in a statement.

Shah Wali Sahib, police chief of Kabul’s 1st municipal district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the fire erupted around 5:30am this morning due to an electrical short-circuit.

He added that firefighters promptly arrived at the scene, restricted access to the area and successfully contained the blaze.

He praised the firefighting team for their swift response and said: “All organs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) are at the service of the people, whether colleagues from the firefighting department or MoI; we serve the entire population.”

Farshid Ahmadzai, director of operations and administration at Kabul’s Firefighting Department, said that the Mir Alam market stored plastic sandals and shoes, which made the fire extremely dangerous, but it has now been extinguished.

Rohullah Razaei, head of Kabul’s Shoemakers Association, said the market had around 300 shops and warehouses selling shoes, of which 18 were destroyed.

He added that the swift response by firefighters prevented further losses.

“We estimate total damage at around 40 million afghanis; 18 shops and their goods are completely destroyed,” he said.

Hamidullah, a shop owner at Mir Alam market, said: “At around 6:00am, I received a call informing me of the fire. When I arrived, firefighters were already on the scene.”

He added that the fire caused him losses amounting to around 600,000 afghanis.

kk/ma