Traders count losses in new Kariakoo fire

Dar es Salaam. It was agony for traders in Kariakoo yet again yesterday after a major fire broke out in the busy area for the second time in two years.

This time around, fire razed the Kariakoo Auction Mart at the junction of Mafia and Msimbazi streets and least five buildings.

Among structures that were badly damaged in the blaze is the multi-storey Big Bon Building, which houses the busy Big Bon filling station and a Bank of Africa Tanzania branch. The building was also used to store new motorcycles.

He said those who could also be counting losses were owners of 14 shops that were close to the razed mart.

“I appeal to them to have patience as the government works on the matter. I know what it means to them because most of the traders occupying stalls at the Kariakoo Auction Mart are those from the lower end of the economy and the mart happens to be their only means of survival,” he said.

Some of the traders at the mart said their lives will no longer be same again after the fire.

“I’m confused. I don’t know where to start because I was not here when the fire started so I only managed to rescue a very items,” said a trader who did not want to be identifies.

The owner of one of the buildings located close to the razed mart, Mr Ally Rubea, said four of his tenants have been affected by the fire.

“They have been rushed to Muhimbili National Hospital and Mnazi Mmoja Hospital for treatment. The smoke was so intense that it seriously affected them,” he said.

A tenant at the building, Mr Haruna Tharaia, said it was difficult to fathom that the fire could start on a day when most shops were closed for the weekend.

Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Albert Chalamila said there was no loss of life in the fire.

“Luckily, there has been no loss of life. Security organs and some of the owners of the affected buildings worked together to salvage property and prevent the loss of life,” he said when he visited the scene of the fire.

Mr Chalamila added that the blaze started in one building before spreading to several adjacent buildings.

He said the extent of the damage in monetary terms could not be immediately established.

“It’s obvious the proprietors and other people who had property and goods in the buildings incurred big losses, but more information will be forthcoming. Our priority is to put out the fire.

 Mr Chalamila said firefighting efforts were hampered because some of the spaces between buildings were blocked and directed that they be cleared immediately.

“Some alleys and other spaces were blocked with wooden structures, which, apart from hampering firefighting and rescue efforts, also fuelled the blaze. I take this opportunity to commend the Fire and Rescue Force and security organs for their swift response to the fire.”

The Fire and Rescue Force acting commander for Ilala, Mr Elisa Mugisha, said the fire started in Big Bon Building, but added that the cause was yet to be established.

He added that the fire was under control, although efforts to put it out were complicated by the affected buildings being close to one another.

“We were first informed at around 7am and it took us about two minutes to arrive here because our office is not far from this place. However, the major challenge was to gain access to the buildings due to cluttered passages,” Mr Mugisha said.

The fire was effectively controlled by about noon yesterday.

Yesterday’s incident can be considered as a series of fire outbreaks that occurred in the Tanzania commercial city of Dar es Salaam’s business centres leading to huge loss, sadness and grief among traders and owners of buildings.

It should be remembered that on July 10, 2021, fire devastated the Kariakoo Market.

The wee hours of April 8, 2022, Dar es Salaam witnessed another incident that ravaged 36 business stalls at the Karume Market.

February 18, 2020, an inferno whose cause couldn’t immediately be established burned into ashes seven business stalls in Tegeta Area, Kinondoni District.

On November 12, 2021, business stalls located close to the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) hostels were also severely destroyed by fire.