The owners of shops affected by a major fire on Saturday in a market located in the Macroryan 3 area of Kabul said that the financial cost of the damage is high.

On Saturday night a fire was reportedly started by a security guard which expanded with the explosion of gas balloons from a nearby restaurant, according to the witnesses.

“11 shops, including a room of the guard, was burned. These shops sold house appliances, vegetables and fruits,” said Zafar, a shopkeeper.

“My property is worth $15,000. The $15,000 has burned only in this shop,” said Qudos, a shopkeeper.

The Department of Natural Disaster Management said that fire-fighting teams arrived quickly and put out the fire.

“When they informed us, it was 11:31 but the people said that the (fire) started at 10:45. We were informed by the security department,” said Hafiz Norullah, head of the Department of Natural Disaster Management. The market included household appliances, fruits and vegetables.

“Guidance was given to us by the fire-fighting department regarding how to control electricity in our shops and markets, also how the flammable materials should be treated with care,” said Mohammad Younus Momand, head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI).

Earlier, two major markets, Abassin Zadran and Ahmadi, were hit by fires, which inflicted heavy financial damage to the owners of the shops.