In brief
On Friday night a fire tore through the underground Bakhtar Market in Mazar‑i‑Sharif, killing 135 shops and inflicting heavy economic losses. No deaths were reported, and local investigations are trying to determine the cause.
A fire erupted late Friday night at the underground Bakhtar Market in Mazar‑i‑Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, and left at least 135 shops reduced to ashes.
According to the international news agency Xinhua, the blaze broke out sometime between 22:00 and midnight, spreading rapidly through the market’s narrow passageways and intricate storage levels.
Local media outlet TOLOnews reported on Saturday that the fire had gutted clothing stalls, footwear stores and tourist‑service offices, wiping out the day‑to‑day livelihood of dozens of traders.
The impact was described in the Xinhua report as “heavy economic losses,” with no human casualties reported so far – a detail confirmed by the local police chief in a brief statement.
Investigators were dispatched to the scene immediately after the fire. Both Xinhua and TOLOnews recorded that a joint inquiry team of fire‑brigade officers and city officials have been assembled to determine how the fire started.
Investigations and Immediate Response
The blaze’s cause remains unknown, on which authorities are warning the public to expect an official announcement once the investigation is complete.
Several police units covered the perimeter of the market during the night, preventing damage to surrounding buildings and keeping people from leaving the area prematurely.
Local business groups in Mazar‑i‑Sharif have called for a rapid response plan, noting that the market floor was the region’s primary commercial hub for shoppers seeking clothes, footwear and tourist supplies.
The Ministry of Commerce’s provincial office issued a notice urging residents to gather evidence of losses, such as receipts and photographs, to support compensation requests that will be explored in the coming weeks.
Public statements from community leaders emphasized that no injuries were recorded, accentuating the scale of the property loss against the absence of human cost.
Some market stall owners said they were trapped underground as the fire erupted, and some had to climb onto nearby bridges to escape as the smoke thickened.
The local health department alerted hospitals in Mazar‑i‑Sharif about potential inhalation injuries, even though no emergency cases reached the facilities as of the latest update.
In addition to the primary investigation, regional authorities are corroborating the impact on the tourism sector, as tourists often used the market stalls to purchase travel documents and souvenirs.
The Xinhua report noted that all traders have yet to receive a formal estimate of total loss; estimates have ranged between $3 million to $5 million in uninsured losses so far.
The government spokesperson said a temporary market will be set up in a nearby sports arena to provide relief to displaced merchants while the official investigation continues.
Later this week, the Deputy Mayor of Mazar‑i‑Sharif held a press conference offering a brief summary of today’s loss while promising to expedite the investigation and relief efforts.
The statements were widely shared across the city’s council social media channels, reminding residents that official traversals, will ensure no one is left behind after the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the provincial governor urged the national government to provide emergency funds for rebuilding while ensuring that safety protocols are re‑evaluated across all underground market venues.
In absence of a known cause, the municipal council revised fire safety rules, stipulating stricter inspections for electrical utilities in the market’s sub‑levels.
As the dust settles, residents remain hopeful that the following investigations will yield concrete specifics to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.