Fire at Kandahar market causes millions worth of damage

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): A fire that broke out late yesterday in a battery and spare parts market in the Spin Boldak district of southern Kandahar province inflicted heavy financial losses on shopkeepers.

Local officials in Kandahar confirmed the fire breakout in Wish Market shortly after 10:00am, saying the blaze took seven hours to be doused.

Although exactly what sparked the fire remains unclear, it is blamed on short-circuited batteries.

Abdul Sattar, a shopkeeper at the market, said:  “The damage runs in millions of US dollars.”

Spin, another shopkeeper at the market, said a short circuit in batteries triggered the fire and he alone suffered 170,000 to 180,000 afghanis losses.

Some other shopkeepers also made similar statements.

Shabir Ahmad, a shopkeeper, said: “Many people at the market own three or four shops and goods in all of them were reduced to ashes, causing heavy financial losses.”

They asked the interim government and aid organization to provide them with assistance after losing their investments.

On the other hand, firefighters of the district said the fire spread because it was Friday and all roads leading to the market were closed.

Mullah Matihullah Adil, head of firefighting team of the district, said if the roads were open or they had been informed on time, t they would have easily extinguished the fire.

He said: “About 2,000 shops were burnt down and 3,000 others saved from the flames. We always insist markets should have regular routes so that the fire brigade can reach them easily during such incidents.”

kk/ma