A fire broke out yesterday at the Phonsavanh Agriculture Market in Paek district, Xieng Khuang province, causing about 4.75 billion kip in damage.
No one died in the blaze but one woman was injured, according to local media reports.
The fire broke out at about 6am in a shop selling beauty products which had not yet started business for the day, according to a witness.
The shop had just opened three months ago and provincial authorities are now investigating the cause of the fire.
The local fire brigade spent two hours bringing the blaze under control with assistance lent by market traders.
The fire destroyed 44 out of the total 360 shops at the market, said Export and Import Trade Development Enterprise Director Mr Khamphou Vannachack.
“We are not yet sure if an electrical fault occurred in the shop, but the owner may have overloaded the electricity supply after connecting up electrical wiring incorrectly,” he said.
The electrical system at the market was installed and upgraded just one year ago. The electricity was switched off every night, so the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault stemming from an illegal electricity connection, said Mr Khamphou, whose company manages the market.
The enterprise also employs security guards to be stationed at the market 24 hours a day, he said.
The Xieng Khuang provincial Industry and Commerce Department transferred responsibility for management of the market to the enterprise last year.
The company will also investigate the cause of the fire and expects the outcome to be available within a week, said Mr Khamphou.
Paek district Governor Ms Boualy Oudomsouk expressed concern over the fire and extended her sympathy to traders affected by the incident.
The fire is an unfortunate reminder of the importance of ensuring that electricity networks and connections are safe.
