NYANZA – Property worth millions of francs was lost in an early Saturday morning fire that gutted Nyanza market located in the town centre. The cause of the fire that destroyed the entire shoe section of the market is not yet known.

Residents laboured in vain to put out the raging fire until a police fire fighting truck arrived at the scene. No one was hurt by the incident.

"I was near the market when the fire broke out, I heard people crying for help; we cannot tell what caused the fire,” said Thèogene Uwizeye, an area resident.

The usually busy section of the market was completely gutted and all merchandise was reduced to smouldering ashes.

Some of residents suspected possible electric short circuit to be the cause of the fire, but officials from the water and electricity utility company, RECO & RWASCO, were quick to rule this out.

According to François Ndayisenga, an official from the utility, all the electric installations in the market were found to be intact.

"I checked all the installations in the market and they were all found to be in good order. However we have launched investigations on the likely cause of the fire,” he said.

During a visit to the scene, the district Mayor, Abdullah Murenzi, said that it is a big blow to the traders, most of whom have no insurance cover.

He revealed that an extensive renovation of the market is set to begin in July this year.

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