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Residents of Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, in the Horn of Africa, woke up today to devastating scenes after a fire engulfed the city’s main market overnight.
The blaze destroyed hundreds of businesses in the crowded market as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.
So far the fire appears to have killed no one but 28 injured have been reported.
The accident is a serious obstacle for the city of 1.2 million, the capital of the republic of Somaliland, not recognized internationally.
Somaliland was separated from Somalia 30 years ago, and has largely escaped the violence of chaos that has ruled its neighbor.
The fire, which started late Friday, was brought under control only on Saturday morning, the local Efe agency reported, while its causes are still unknown.
#BREAKING: What a tragedy! Areal footage of the giant fire in Hargeisa market, Somaliland. BBC pic.twitter.com/wlYAyNGbQV
– Mowliid Haji Abdi (@MowliidHaji) April 1, 2022
“Our city has never seen such a catastrophe before,” said Mayor Abdikarim Ahmed Moge.
“This place is the economic center of Hargeisa and although firefighters worked hard to bring the flames under control, the market has been destroyed,” he added of the unusual event.
Reacting to the news in the former British protectorate, Prime Minister Boris Johnson write that “I am sad to see this devastation in the market that was the economic center of the city.”
Trader Bashi Ali told the AFP network that he owned several businesses in the market and all had turned to ashes. “What we can learn is to plan construction better next time,” he said.
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