By Sayyid Omar,
@SayyidOmer

Hargeisa, Somaliland – A massive fire broke out late last night at Idaacadda Market, Hargeisa’s second-largest market, causing extensive financial losses. The fire, which raged for hours, was difficult to contain due to the narrow streets within the marketplace, delaying emergency response efforts. 

Firefighters, police forces, and local residents worked together to battle the flames, eventually bringing the situation under control. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported, but the economic damage is significant. 

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) visited the site and emphasized the need for a national plan to prevent recurrent market fires, which have devastated key commercial hubs.

“Fires have repeatedly struck our economic lifelines, and this demands a national response. We will formulate effective policies and urban planning strategies to address this issue,” President Irro stated. 

In recent years, Somali markets have faced a surge in devastating fires, yet there has been no comprehensive investigation into the causes or effective mitigation measures. This latest incident highlights the urgent need for a long-term strategy to protect businesses and infrastructure from future disasters.