A major fire broke out at the Madina market in Bishkek on the morning of August 30, engulfing about 400 square meters, according to infohub.kz.
According to Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations, all fire trucks in the city were called in to fight the blaze. A drone was used to assess the situation and coordinate rescue efforts. Three water tankers from the municipal enterprise "Tazalyk" and three ambulance crews were also dispatched to the scene.
Preliminary data from Bishkek's Main Internal Affairs Department suggests the fire may have been caused by a short circuit. The flames started in one of the containers and quickly spread to the shopping pavilions. Police reported no casualties. The market had been closed for three days, with traders forced to take a break, so it was not operating at the time of the fire.
The fire has now been contained. Rescuers are continuing to open sealed containers to reach remaining hotspots. Ten fire crews, three water tankers, and three ambulance teams are working at the scene.