The fire broke out in the main market in Tahan, Sagaing Division at 9:00 p.m. (Burma Standard Time). It is yet to be established how the fire started.

Some residents of Tahan believe that the fire started from a stove of a restaurant or a short circuit. Meanwhile, eye witnesses say that the fire started all around the market simultaneously as if petrol was on fire.

“If the fire had not started all around the market at once, we could have saved some of our goods,” a shop keeper lamented.

Four fire department vehicles reached the spot promptly but could not be engaged as the equipment did not function. Rain helped in extinguishing the fire, sources added.

Tahan market had around 300 shops. The market area is 200 feet long and 150 feet wide.

The outer buildings of the market were made of concrete and there were around 200 makeshift wooden stalls in the inner market. No goods could be saved and commodities worth an estimated Kyat 100 million may have been lost in the fire.

No government compensation has been offered to the traders in the market. -KNG