Tbilisi bazaar fire: quick response averts casualties
Early in the morning on 30 April, a fire broke out at the famous bazaar in Tbilisi. The column of fire was visible from afar, and thick clouds of smoke lingered over the city for a long time. The bazaar was completely destroyed, but fortunately, no one was injured.
What do you need to know?
- Where and when did the fire break out? The fire broke out at the bazaar near the Station Square metro station in Tbilisi, early in the morning on 30 April.
- What actions did the firefighters take? About 30 fire engines participated in the firefighting operation. The services successfully managed to extinguish the fire.
- Are the causes of the fire known? The cause of the fire is not yet known, but no casualties have been reported.
How did the firefighting operation proceed?
The fire broke out at around 3 PM GMT in a shoe shop on the second floor. Witnesses confirmed that the fire spread quickly, covering an area of approximately 15,000 square metres.
"Thanks to the quick response of the firefighters, the fire was located and extinguished. The fire is now out, and smouldering areas are being processed," reported Levan Museliani, head of the Main Fire and Rescue Department.
What were the effects of the fire?
The fire covered an area of approximately 15,000 square metres. Despite the large scale of the fire, no casualties were recorded. Work to extinguish the remaining smouldering areas is still ongoing. "The cause of the fire is not yet known, and no casualties have been reported," stated the report.
What do witnesses say?
Witnesses report that the fire started in a shoe shop on the second floor of the market. The owners of stalls and shops efficiently removed their goods from the threatened area, which accelerated the firefighters' operation and helped minimise material losses.
The fire itself looked terrifying. The column of fire and thick smoke could be seen from the furthest corners of the capital of Georgia.
