FUJAIRAH // The emirate’s famous Friday Market was badly damaged in a massive fire that tore through shops and stalls on Saturday evening.
Eight carpet and furniture shops were badly damaged in the blaze, with three fruit stalls destroyed. No-one is believed to have been injured.
Col Ali Al Tunaiji, head of Fujairah Civil Defence, said: “We received the fire report at around 17:30 [5.30pm] and we swung into action accordingly. We managed to control the fire, but it damaged 15 per cent of the rugs and vegetables and fruit stalls in the market. No casualties or injuries have been reported. The reason for the fire is still under investigation.”
The carpet market, near Masafi, is popular with tourists and residents, with hundreds visiting daily. It is considered to be the best place to buy rugs and carpets from Iran, Pakistan and India.
Fire engines from across Fujairah rushed to the scene and managed to control the fire and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring shops.
It took firefighters four hours to bring the blaze under control. Their work was slowed by high temperatures and the flammable materials stored at the shops in the area.
rhaza@thenational.ae
