Traders of the Hagadera Market in Garissa are counting losses after a fire broke out at the market earlier today, October 27.
Reportedly, the fire broke out at around 11:40am, quickly escalating and engulfing several structures in the busy refugee camp market.
However, the fire has since been brought under control by the Kenya Red Cross, although several businesses were destroyed as a result.
Several shops, pharmacies, restaurants, and other commercial establishments are said to have been affected by the raging blaze.
Images and video clips obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed structures going up in thick smoke, while traders scrambled to save their wares, and others helped put it out.
The quick intervention of traders and residents who worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames using water and improvised tools diminished the damage, as no immediate response was available from fire emergency services.
As such, they are now calling for the establishment of an effective emergency response system to prevent similar disasters in the future.
So far, the actual amount of losses incurred by the traders affected is yet to be determined at the time of the publication of this article.
There have been no reported casualties as a result of the fire either.
Tragically, this is the sixth fire that has broken out in the Hagadera camp market in the past few years, although the causes of the frequent fires are yet to be addressed.
Just 10 months ago, in December, another fire broke out in the market, causing another spate of damage. Even back then, the residents decried the lack of emergency response by the county, a sight that is becoming all too common across the country.
According to a report by the Kenya Red Cross, which responded to the fire, no injuries were recorded in that fire either.
