Tuesday August 5, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – A
massive fire broke out at Suuq Bacaad market in Mogadishu on Monday night,
destroying several sections of the bustling marketplace and claiming the life
of a young girl.
Authorities said the fire was likely caused by an electrical
fault. Yaaqshiid District Commissioner Suleyman Mahmoud Fargax extended his
condolences to the victim’s family and confirmed that no other casualties were
reported.
Ibrahim Muse, a trader at the market, said three of his
shops and others owned by his mother were among those destroyed.
“Tonight, we have become a destitute family. We are deeply
saddened,” he told reporters, highlighting the widespread property losses
suffered by traders.
The fire spread rapidly and proved difficult to contain,
severely damaging large portions of the market before being extinguished after
several hours. Firefighters from the local government, emergency teams from
Hormuud Telecom, and other responders worked jointly to battle the flames.
In response, a committee of Suuq Bacaad traders is expected
to be formed on Tuesday to assess the full extent of the damage and coordinate
with affected business owners.
The incident has once again exposed Somalia’s limited
emergency response capacity, a lingering effect of decades of conflict and
underinvestment in public infrastructure.