Fire destroys parts of largest market in Kenya, officials say

Published December 03, 2015

A man throws water on the smouldering remains of market stalls after an overnight fire in the Gikomba open-air market in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Firefighters struggled for hours to contain the blaze which destroyed the market, which sells mainly secondhand clothes, as well as a number of surrounding residences, but no casualties were reported according to the Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi) (The Associated Press)

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Residents look at the remains of market stalls after an overnight fire in the Gikomba open-air market in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Firefighters struggled for hours to contain the blaze which destroyed the market, which sells mainly secondhand clothes, as well as a number of surrounding residences, but no casualties were reported according to the Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi) (The Associated Press)

Residents watch the remains of market stalls after an overnight fire in the Gikomba open-air market in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Firefighters struggled for hours to contain the blaze which destroyed the market, which sells mainly secondhand clothes, as well as a number of surrounding residences, but no casualties were reported according to the Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi) (The Associated Press)

Officials say a fire has consumed parts of Kenya's largest market, destroying an area where vendors sell second-hand clothes imported from Western countries.

Nairobi police chief Benjamin Kibue said Tuesday the cause of the fire in Gikomba Market in Nairobi remains unclear. Issabel Githinji, a business woman who was among those affected, estimated that property worth millions of dollars had been destroyed.

Kenya's National Disaster Operation Center said no casualties were reported.

Kibue said the fire started around 3 am and fire fighters responded on time but fire engines could not get an access route through the maze of stalls. Hundreds of vendors turned out to try and salvage anything that was left among the smoldering remains after the fire was put out hours later.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/fire-destroys-parts-of-largest-market-in-kenya-officials-say