AHSA, 19 October — A huge fire has gutted most of the Kaisariya Souk, the oldest and most popular souk in the city yesterday.
Ten people, including officials of the civil defense forces, sustained burns and injuries. Preliminary estimates show that losses from the destruction of the center will total more than SR10 million. The fire that started in a shop early in the morning soon spread to neighboring shops, consuming 200 shops leaving out only a handful unaffected. The fire might have spread so rapidly because the roof of the entire souk is made of wood and there are numerous shops inside containing highly inflammable articles such as cotton and perfume.
The fire was not immediately reported because few workers were present when it broke out in the early hours of the morning.
When the fire began to spread, sending thick black fumes into the air, some people who breathed in the smoke collapsed. The Water and Sewage Department helped civil defense officials in the fire-fighting and rescue operations.
Red Crescent workers also helped rush the injured to a nearby hospital. Officials are currently considering the possibility of providing some other location for the shops destroyed in the accident.
The Kaisariya souk attracts local and foreign tourists because it is 150 years old and sells several interesting folk items in addition to all modern consumer articles. Most of the workers in the souk are Saudis.
