JEDDAH, 2 April 2008 — Over 150 shops and stalls were gutted, causing losses to the tune of millions of riyals, when a massive fire engulfed Al-Sawarikh Market (Haraj) in the south of Jeddah yesterday.
“The fire covered an area of 4,000 square meters and it was not until late evening that it was brought under control,” said Capt. Abdullah Al-Amri, spokesman for the Civil Defense. “However, there were no casualties.”
“Twenty fire-fighting teams were sent to the market along with around 45 water trucks. Strong winds and loads of highly combustible goods caused the fire to spread across the market,” said Al-Amri.
Shopkeepers confirmed that the fire started at around 1 p.m. in an office located in the market’s central area.
“We rushed to put out the blaze,” said Abdullah Hazazi, a security guard, who was disheveled and covered in ash. “We had a tough time controlling the fire which, I think, was caused by a short circuit.”
A massive cloud of smoke that billowed from the site of the blaze could be seen several kilometers away.
At the market, goods were strewn all over the place as shopkeepers struggled to salvage their stock.
Until the fire had been brought under control, police had closed roads leading to the market to stop people from entering the area.
