Nine dead including children and 60 injured after huge blaze breaks out at busy market in refugee camp in the Gaza Strip
- Witnesses said an explosion rocked out of bakery in the Nusseirat camp in Gaza
- The blaze engulfed the bakery before spreading to stores, factories and cars
- Gaza’s interior ministry, which is run by the enclave’s Islamist rulers Hamas, said the fire resulted from a gas leak
At least nine people were killed and 60 injured on Thursday when a bakery fire swept through a crowded market in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, health officials said.
Six children were among the dead and 14 of the injured were in critical condition, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Witnesses said they heard an explosion come from a bakery in the Nusseirat camp in central Gaza before a blaze engulfed the bakery and quickly spread to nearby stores, factories and cars parked along the street.
Palestinian members of Civil defence firefighters try to control a fire broke out at a market Market fire, Nusseirat, Gaza Strip today. Nine people died, and more than 50 Palestinians were injured in an explosion in Nusseirat refugee camp
Palestinian firefighters try to put out a fire that broke out in a market in the central Gaza Strip today
Firefighters try to fight back a blaze after a fire broke out today at a market in the central Gaza strip
Palestinians hose down burnt cars after a fire broke out in a market in the central Gaza Strip today
Gaza’s interior ministry, which is run by the enclave’s Islamist rulers Hamas, said the fire resulted from a gas leak inside one of the bakeries which caused several cooking gas bottles to explode.
Large numbers of civilians rushed to help firefighters put out the flames. Smoke rising over the refugee camp could be seen from miles away.
‘People started to run towards the sound but then a huge fire broke out…it was horrifying,’ said Ishaq Kuhail, 24, who owns a nearby cellphone shop.
A Palestinian Hamas militant controls the scene where a fire broke out in a market in the central Gaza Strip today
Palestinians put out a fire that broke out in a market in the refugee camp of Nusseirat in central Gaza Strip today
Palestinians put out a fire that broke out in a market in the refugee camp of Nuseirat in central Gaza Strip today
‘I have never seen anything like it.’
The fire was eventually put out after over three hours of work by firefighters and civilians, said Mohammad Mahmoud, 38.
Gaza authorities said they would offer cash assistance to the injured and families of the dead.
Gaza, a Palestinian enclave which covers 140 square miles (365 square km) along the Mediterranean Sea, is home to some two million people.
Israel maintains a blockade of the Strip, citing security concerns from Hamas, with which it has fought several wars.