Nyala, February 04 (Darfur24)
A massive fire swept through the local market of Rahad al-Bardi in South Darfur State on Monday, destroying more than 100 shops and causing heavy material losses, while several citizens sustained minor injuries, eyewitnesses and local sources said.
Rahad al-Bardi locality lies southwest of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State.
Eyewitnesses told Darfur24 that the blaze broke out inside a warehouse owned by traders residing within the market, before rapidly spreading to nearby shops constructed from local, highly flammable materials.
A local source said the fire engulfed the seasonal Rahad al-Bardi market, completely destroying more than 100 shops, burning around 200 barrels of fuel, and consuming a livestock enclosure.
The source added that the market spans an estimated area of about four square kilometers, which contributed to the scale of the damage.
Residents told Darfur24 that fires occur repeatedly each year in the Rahad al-Bardi market, attributing the frequent incidents to the widespread use of local construction materials that accelerate the spread of flames and amplify losses when fires break out.