Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A fire damaged numerous shops in Sharjah's Sharia Market on Thursday (July 25), and Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has swiftly ordered relief and aid for victims. The fire, which was reported at 3:14am, resulted in extensive property damage but no casualties. Sheikh Sultan ordered that alternative shops be immediately allocated to affected vendors within three days, and that the shops come fully equipped with furniture, shelves and air conditioning. He also directed financial compensation for victims' losses. Sheikh Sultan ordered the construction of a permanent market made of concrete that will house more than 60 commercial shops and where shop owners affected by Thursday’s fire will be compensated with new shops. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze after several hours of battling the flames, which were fueled by the market's dense layout and flammable materials. The damaged old market was constructed using palm leaves and only housed 16 shops. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. Meanwhile, authorities have emphasized the importance of adhering to safety regulations to prevent future incidents. ICA/Expat Media
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