Fire ravishes shops at Douala central market

Fire wreaks havoc at the central market A sector of Douala destroying five clothing shops on Sunday, April 5, 2015.

According to some guards, the fire outbreak was caused by the negligence of some shop owners at the market. "With the recurrence of fires in this market, the association of traders and the authorities have set up a system that required every shop owner to switch off his electric meter each evening before closing from the shop."

This instruction was not followed by one of the owners of the shops thus sparking fire in the meter" noted Jean Ziko, Member of the Committee of market surveillance.

The timely intervention of fire-fighters however helped to quench the flames. A security boarder has been created and security forces are positioned to prevent acts of vandalism and looting.

According to officials of the association of traders of the central market, the losses are estimated at nearly fifty million CFA.