Kabul, March 22 – At least 43 shops were completely destroyed after a fire broke out at a local market in Badakhshan province, northern Afghanistan, according to a statement released by the provincial department of information and culture.
The fire originated in the Ab Jim market in the Raghistan district, the statement said on Saturday evening, adding that preliminary estimates suggest that shop owners have suffered losses amounting to nearly 22 million afghanis (approximately $349,000).
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Investigation teams have been dispatched to the scene, and investigations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, according to the statement, reports Xinhua news agency.
Fire incidents are common throughout Afghanistan, often caused by inadequate safety standards, faulty electrical wiring, and the lack of modern firefighting equipment, particularly in remote provinces.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, at least four commuters were killed and three others were injured after their vehicle overturned in Faryab province, northern Afghanistan, according to the official media outlet, Bakhtar News Agency, on Saturday.
The accident occurred in the Jungal area of the Dawlat Abad district when the driver lost control due to carelessness, causing the vehicle to swerve off the road and overturn, killing four on the spot and injuring three others, according to the report.
The injured were transferred to a nearby health center for treatment.
Road accidents remain a leading cause of death in Afghanistan, often resulting from reckless driving on congested roads, poor road conditions, and a lack of traffic signs on dilapidated highways.