Hussaini Umar, AfricaNews reporter in Kano, Nigeria
At least three people have lost their lives in fire outbreaks that engulfed the largest African textile market in Kano, northern Nigeria. Hundreds of traders and would-be buyers were also injured, according to our reporter. The fire started around 3am on Friday and goods worth thousands of dollars have been destroyed.
Fire fighters from the Kano State Fire Service had it tough getting into the market due to congestion and blocked ways. It took the Nigerian Air Force to assign fire fighting helicopters to rescue the market.
Eye witnesses told AfricaNews that those who perished were in the process of saving their goods and money from being consumed in the wild fire.
When our correspondent visited the fire scene at about 7am the fire was still burning with hundreds of garments and children’s wear burnt to ashes.
An eye witness attributed the cause of the fire to an electrical problem from an electricity transformer.