Fire razes down Homa Bay main market

Traders lost property worth millions of shillings after fire gutted down Homa Bay Town market on Friday night. PHOTO | BARRACK ODUOR | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Flames razed down a market in Homa Bay town on Friday night.

Officials said electronic shops, barber shops, groceries and butcheries were burned down in the inferno.

Although the cause of the fire is not known, traders suspect an electrical fault in one of the shops.

Homa Bay police boss Esau Ochorokodi said authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the fire in the market where traders lost property worth millions of shillings

"We cannot establish the exact value of property burnt down but the traders have lost goods worth millions," said Mr Ochorokodi.

The fire which began around 12:00 midnight affected over 500 business persons.

Some traders blamed the county government fire unit for not responding quickly to the emergency.

Joel Otieno, a trader said he traders watched helplessly as fire burnt down their properties.