Cairo’s fire department succeeded to extinguish a blaze that erupted Saturday morning in the popular Al-Sayeda Aisha street market in the south of the capital, affecting six alleyways of furniture and household shops, state news agency MENA reported.
The fire broke out in an 600-metre area of the market, which is known as Al-Tunsi or Friday market. No injuries were reported, MENA said.
“The market is considered a time bomb in the heart of the capital as it lacks to safety and security conditions and this catastrophe could be repeated anytime," Cairo governor Atef Abdel-Hamid was quoted by MENA as saying.
"The market is very chatoic, and the narrow alleys where the market is located make it not safe and easy for civil protection to intervene," Khaled Mostafa, spokesman for Cairo governorate, told Ahram Online.
"We [the governorate] almost found a new location, which is 500 metres from the current market, in El-Khalifa area, and it will be fully protected," he added.
According to Mostafa, the total number of merchants in the market is not known.
The general secretary of the governorate told MENA that the cause of the fire had not been determined.
Two fires flared in the same market in June and September 2016.
The street market, located near Salah Eddin Citadel in the heart of Cairo, opens Friday and Sunday. The market is known for its cheap antiques, garments, furniture and household appliances.
