Several traders were left in tears yesterday as fire gutted a commercial building in Musanze town destroying property worth millions of francs. The incident took place in Musanze Sector at around 10am.

Vicky Mapendo, who lost property in the inferno, said the fire started mysteriously and spread so fast.

"We tried to put out the fire in vain. Within a few seconds, the whole building was in flames,” Mapendo said.

Superintendent Christopher Semuhungu, the Northern Province regional Police spokesperson, said the cause of the fire was still unknown.

The multi-purpose building housed several shops.

Semuhungu said the building had some flammable materials such as mattresses and paint which fueled the fire. Part of the building also served as a residential area.

"We are still investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the damage caused by the incident,” Semuhungu said, adding that no properties were rescued.

He warned traders against mixing combustible products with other merchandise, which he said help in spreading fire in case of an outbreak.

Fire incidents were rampant in Kigali city and the Southern Province in the recent past with official reports indicating that over 60 per cent were attributed to short circuits.

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