Fire ripping through Erbil's famous Qaysari Bazaar on May 5, 2024. Photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - On Sunday night, fire again erupted in an Erbil bazaar, this time at the city’s famous Qaysari Bazaar. The blaze was brought under control nearly three hours after it started.
Social media users sent videos to Rudaw showing flames in the famed bazaar located near the city’s historic citadel. The bazaar is a popular tourist destination.
Sixteen firefighting teams were dispatched to battle the blaze, according to Rudaw's reporter on the ground Farhad Dolamari.
"I spoke with Omed Khoshnaw, the governor of Erbil, and he assured me that the firefighting teams are exerting all efforts to control the fire at Erbil’s grand bazaar," Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said on X.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and commend the first responders for their bravery," he added.
I spoke with Omed Khoshnaw, the governor of Erbil city, and he assured me that the firefighting teams are exerting all efforts to control the fire at Erbil’s grand bazaar.
— Qubad Talabani (@qubadjt) May 5, 2024
We will continue to monitor the situation and commend the first responders for their bravery.
The fire started at around 9:35 pm and was brought under control around three hours later, according to the governor of Erbil.
A shop owner said his store was completely burned and he estimated the loss is about $20,000.
An eyewitness told Rudaw that approximately 20 shops had burned.
The cause of the fire and extent of the damage are still unknown.
This is the second large fire in Erbil in the span of a month. Flames engulfed the popular Langa Bazaar on April 8, burning down the textile and clothing section and causing millions of dollars in damage.
The same bazaar also caught fire in late February.
Fires are a perennial concern in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq where safety standards are sub-par. Electrical faults and lack of basic safety measures are a major part of the problem.
Updated at 08:10 am on Monday
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