Mogadishu (WDN) – A massive fire tore through a section of Bakara Market, Somalia’s largest commercial hub, early Tuesday morning, destroying multiple businesses and causing extensive property damage before emergency crews finally brought the blaze under control after several hours.

The fire erupted in the Abdalla Shideeye section of the sprawling market, sending towering flames and thick columns of black smoke into the sky, visible from several parts of the capital.

As the blaze spread rapidly through closely packed shops, hundreds of people—including traders, customers, business owners, and local residents—rushed to the scene in desperate attempts to salvage merchandise and contain the fire before it engulfed additional buildings.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as merchants scrambled to rescue whatever goods they could, while others watched helplessly as years of investment were consumed by the flames.

The intensity of the fire quickly overwhelmed initial efforts to contain it, raising fears that large sections of the market could be destroyed.

Emergency firefighting units from the Banadir Regional Administration responded to the scene and battled the blaze for several hours. According to the latest reports, firefighters eventually succeeded in bringing the fire under control after it had spread to several adjoining buildings.

Although the full extent of the financial losses has yet to be determined, eyewitnesses said substantial amounts of merchandise and commercial property were destroyed, dealing a devastating blow to many traders whose livelihoods depend on the market.

Despite the scale of the disaster, authorities reported no fatalities or injuries, making the incident a significant property loss rather than a human tragedy.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, and officials have not yet announced whether an investigation has been launched to determine how the blaze started.

Bakara Market is the commercial heart of Mogadishu and one of the busiest trading centers in the Horn of Africa, supplying goods to much of Somalia. Fires have periodically struck sections of the market over the years, highlighting the vulnerability of densely packed commercial areas where limited fire safety infrastructure can allow small blazes to spread rapidly.

As smoke cleared over the market, devastated shopkeepers began assessing the damage, while many expressed hope that support from the government, the business community, and fellow Somalis would help those affected rebuild their businesses and livelihoods.

WardheerNews