Yangon's market caught on fire
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Unsafe wiring and unmonitored maintenance work caused the huge fire at Mingala Market, in which more than 1,600 shops were burned down with losses in excess of Ks3 billion, according to Mingala Taungnyunt police.
“The third to fifth floors caught fire. The lower levels are fine. Around 1,636 shops were burned down with losses of more than Ks3 billion. A firefighter was injured when a wall on the third floor fell on him. His knee and face were injured. He is now at Yangon General Hospital,” said Major Thein Aung of Mingala Taungnyunt Township police.
The owner of shop 451 on the fourth floor is being blamed for allegedly using the electricity supply illegally at night to carry out maintenance work and starting the fire.
Although the fire was under control by 6am, firefighters did not stop battling it until 4pm when the smoke was stopped.
Despite a serious fire in 2010, residents claimed that fire-proof walls had not been installed.
"The losses will always be high as it was not built to the fire brigade's standards,” said Tin Aye of the township.
Third- and fourth-floor traders cosmetics, kitchen products and pharmaceuticals.
A total of 115 fire engines and 19 ambulances were used and several roads were blocked off until the evening.
Myint Swe, Yangon Region chief minister, and military commanders visited the scene.
Mingala Market last caught fire on May 24, 2010, taking 50 hours to put out, a Myanmar record.
