More than 240 firefighters took part in the extinguishing work, and at times 99 vehicles from the professional and volunteer fire departments were in action. Footage from broadcaster TVN24 showed flames blazing from the roof of the large facility. Nobody got hurt. The fire was under control in the afternoon and investigations into the causes continued.
A spokeswoman for the city administration told the PAP news agency that financial support for the many affected small traders whose livelihoods were destroyed by the fire would be discussed on Monday. A majority of the traders come from Vietnam.
