Mozambique: Large fire destroys store and warehouse in Chimoio – Watch

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Mozambique: Large fire destroys store and warehouse in Chimoio – Watch

3:12 CAT | 28 Jun 2024

Photo: Dpic Manica

A large fire has completely destroyed a commercial establishment and warehouse at the Mercado Feira in Chimoio, Manica province.

There is no record of casualties, but the fire, which is presumed to have been caused by a short circuit, completely destroyed the merchandise in the store and warehouse.

The fire caused damage valued at more than 1.5 million meticais (about US$23,500).

Mercado Feira is the second-largest shopping centre in the city of Chimoio, after Francisco Manyanga, commonly known as “Mercado 38mm”.

It houses more than a thousand stores and stalls. National and foreign citizens carry out commercial activity at Mercado Feira, many of them Nigerians, Somalis and Guineans.

The spokesperson for the Public Safety Service (SENSAP) in Manica province, Zacarias Kenneth, explained this Thursday (27-06) that the fire broke out in the store around midnight on Wednesday, spreading to the warehouse.

“We received communication about the fire. When we arrived at the scene, we saw that it was caused by a short circuit. Our appeal is not to make clandestine electrical connections, to avoid fires similar to what happened here,” Kenneth said.

“This appeal goes to all citizens. Today we have this case of Mercado Feira, but this incident can also occur in our homes. So we must observe all safety measures when using electricity,” he added.

Various merchandise in the two establishments, including food products, was reduced to ashes due to the intensity of the blaze.

“We couldn’t get anything out at all. When we arrived, we tried to control the fire and then entered the warehouse. But everything was already completely destroyed. There was flammable material that increased the intensity of the fire,” Kenneth said.

“We lost everything,” says store owner Tchermon Tarcio, a Guinean national. “I received many phone calls during the night and in the early hours of the morning. They told me the store was on fire. I ran to the store and saw a lot of flames. The firefighters were here, but they were unable to remove the merchandise from the store and warehouse.”

Source: AIM Moçambique