Fire Destroys Moulmein Market

By LAWI WENG

Fire swept through a riverside market in Moulmein, capital of Mon State in southern Burma, on Monday evening, destroying several shops and restaurants. Firefighters struggled throughout the night to control the blaze, which was only finally extinguished on Tuesday morning.

Sources in Moulmein and Rangoon told The Irrawaddy that the fire broke out in a floating restaurant on the banks of the Salween River and destroyed the entire market, known as the lower bazaar. The bazaar is the larger of Moulmein’s two markets.

Several shopkeepers were injured as they tried to rescue their goods from burning premises. No official casualty figures were given, but a local doctor said Moulmein’s public hospital had difficulty finding adequate staff to treat the injured.