Latest News:  

English>>World

Market fire kills one, injures unknown number of people in Burundi

(Xinhua)

15:07, January 28, 2013

BUJUMBURA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A woman died and an unknown number of people were injured while trying to secure their items from a burning market on Sunday in Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi.

Witnesses said the fire broke out at the Bujumbura's main market at about 05:30 (0330 GMT). The fire began in the department of beans and then extended to the side of clothes.

They said a woman has died while she had gone inside the burning market to secure some 500 million Burundi francs (312,000 U.S. dollars) that she had kept in her stand.

The Burundian police brought two fire fighter vehicles while the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) brought another fire fighter truck, but they failed to extinguish the fire.

Damages are huge, but are not yet known.

The Burundian government has set up a commission led by Second Vice-President Gervais Rufyikiri to investigate the cause of the fire that reduced into ash the country's main market in Bujumbura, Burundian First Vice-President Therence Sinunguruza told a press briefing at the burning market.

"After we (government) heard the bad news, we held several meetings which ended up by the creation of a commission mandated to investigate the origin of the fire," said the vice president.

Sinunguruza advised people to avoid speculations on the origin of the fire and called on them to wait for the outcome of the assignment given to the commission.

He also called for solidarity with owners of the stands that were burned, saying "The Burundian government will do all it can to assist victims of the fire."

He stressed that the fire has "seriously" affected the national economy.

We recommend:

Protesters call for pullout of U.S. troops

Heavy snowfall hits London, Britain

Obama and First Lady dance during Inaugural ball

Rally held to welcome Grand Rabbi in Jerusalem

Unforgettable moments you cannot miss in January

The world in photos(2013.1.13-1.20)

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:姚春、张茜)

Related Reading

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Landing ship flotilla organizes military skill competitions

  2. PLA air force conducts air raid drill in S. China

  3. 2013 Ilopango Air Show kicks off

  4. In photos: Instant noodle & Spring Festival travel

  5. Shanghai takes a bite of Diaoyu Islands

  6. People on way home during Spring Festival

  7. Li Na faces falls, defeat light-heartedly

  8. Chinese prepares for Spring Festival

  9. Eateries think small to fight food waste

  10. Chief's self-styled approach pays off

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Y-20 marks transformation of PLA air force
  2. Is UK's withdrawal from EU a show?
  3. China's anti-missile test no threat to peace
  4. Children toy with new forms of leisure
  5. Egyptians' rallies reflect growing political awareness
  6. Princess's unique perspective for cultural integration
  7. Who is to blame for death of 38 hostages in Algeria?
  8. US needs to rethink rebalancing
  9. Chinese consumption grossly underestimated
  10. Western debt addiction poisonous to world

What’s happening in China

People on way home during Spring Festival travel rush

  1. Proposal to help disabled get behind the wheel
  2. S China city promises to protect environment
  3. Learning etiquette in a global context
  4. 7 dead in NE China train-bus collision
  5. China expands human organ donation pilot