In Afghanistan, a large fire at Kabul’s historic Mandawi market yesterday resulted in dozens of shops being destroyed and caused an estimated 7 lakh US dollars in losses. As per the Afghan news agency, the large fire swept through Kabul’s Mandawi market early yesterday. The incident highlighted persistent safety risks in the Afghan capital’s commercial areas. While no casualties were reported, the fire, however, left dozens of traders facing heavy financial losses.

 

The Traders have called on the authorities to provide emergency assistance, and the Interior Ministry said it would investigate the incident. The blaze broke out before dawn in a shoe market inside Mandawi, which is one of the capital city’s oldest and busiest wholesale centres for imported goods like footwear, clothing and household items. Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry said the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit- a problem traders and experts say is common in markets with old wiring and limited safety oversight.