1st LD Writethru: Huge fire breaks out in Nigerian market

A huge fire broke out in the early hour of Monday at a portion of famous busy Balogun market in Lagos, the economic hub of Nigeria, local rescue agency said.

Spokesperson for the country's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Lagos Ibrahim Farinloye told Xinhua that the cause of fire is not known at the moment and casualties are yet to be known.

Xinhua reporters at the scene said officials of the Federal and Lagos State Fire Service were attempting to put the fire off in the building as the smoke thickens, with traders throwing their goods from upper floor of the building.

Ganiyu Olayiwola, the Deputy Controller of Federal Fire Service told Xinhua that goods and several property worth millions of naira were lost to the inferno that gutted more than 100 shops in the section of the Balogun International Market.

The fire official said the fire began at about 4:36 a.m. local time.

Some of the traders who spoke with Xinhua blamed high voltage and poor firefighting facility at the market for the disaster.

Folorunsho Adekeye, a businessman, said traders rushed to the market when they learnt of the fire, but it was too late as the fire raged violently.

He blamed the fire on the high voltage electricity supplied to the market, adding that hoodlums used the advantage to steal most of the salvaged items until the police came to send them away.

Balogun market, one of the largest markets in Nigeria, is a sprawling market spread across many streets on Lagos Island. It is regarded by local people as one of the best places to get great bargains. Endi