Violent fire consumes entire Quang Ngai market

A large fire broke out at the Quang Ngai Market in the central province of Quang Ngai at 5 am today and covered the entire market 3 hours later. The fire was put out at 1:30 pm after burning down the market, with total damage estimated at about VND200 billion (US$9.6 million).

The local fire brigade sent tens of fire engines and hundreds of firemen to the market, which is located between three major streets, Nguyen Nghiem, Ngo Quyen and Nguyen Ba Loan, to extinguish the fire.

The Binh Son Petro-chemical Refinery Company sent two fire trucks of its own to the scene for support.

The firefighters have tried to prevent the fire from spreading to the residential area surrounding the market.

By 8 am, the fire, which rose up to heights of tens of meters, had consumed the entire market, including a large number of stalls – including those selling fabric, garments, cosmetics, cake and candy, according to Tuoi Tre reporters who are on the scene and following the situation.

Police have sent 300 officers to the scene to assist in the extinguishing and keep order in the area.

The provincial Party Committee secretary Vo Van Thuong, chairman of the People’s Committee Cao Khoa, and director of Police Department Le Xuan Hoa are present on the scene to direct efforts to extinguish the fire.

Some traders told Tuoi Tre that the flames broke out at the footwear area and then spread rapidly to other parts of the market.

At the time of fire, the market had 512 traders inside and about 200 others outside it, said Huynh Chanh, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.

The plumes of smoke from the fire rise up tens of meters and cover the market and its surrounding area

At 9:30 am, the fire continues to rage at the market. The authorities have further mobilized more than 10 fire engines to constrain the fire.

They have also sent 200 more policemen, soldiers, and rescuers to the market to take part extinguishing, and to help traders and local residents near the market move their assets to safe places.

There have been no reports of casualties from the fire so far, the authorities said.

The provincial authorities have set up a steering board to overcome the resulting consequences the fire will have on traders and local residents.

The authorities also mobilized more than 10 fire trucks and 100 firemen the Dung Quat Refinery Plant to take part in the extinguishing.

By 10 am, the fire had been mostly put out but some flames were still smoldering in several areas inside the market.

The authorities have ordered firefighters to break down some of the enclosing walls of the market so that they can move further inside the market to put out all the remaining flames.

Many columns of black smoke continued rising up from the market, amidst the sound of weeping and moaning from many traders whose assets have been ruined by the fire.

The location of the Quang Ngai market (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

According to initial calculations, the damage to traders’ assets may amount to hundreds of billions of dong (VND1 billion = US$48,000), the authorities said.

At 10:30 am, provincial People’s Committee chairman Nguyen Tang Binh said the authorities will give VND4-5 million ($192-240) as initial support to each trader suffering from the fire.

This afternoon the local government will have a meeting to determine the cause of the fire and remedies to the damage to the market, he said.

At 11:30 am, many fire engines continued to get water from hydrants to extinguish the fire. Many of the ventilation sections on the second floor of the market have been broken down to make way for fire fighters as they spray water inside the market.

The blaze gradually subsided and was put out at 1:30 pm after burning down 682 stalls of goods worth about VND200 billion ($9.6 million).