By Ramesh Mathew
Staff Reporter
A number of shops in Souq Deira and its neighbourhood suffered heavy losses when a major fire broke out in one of the buildings housing several business establishments yesterday morning.
The fire was first spotted on the first floor of the building that has several shops, many of them readymade garment outlets. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. It was said to have started around 9.30am.
Among the shops gutted was Chinese Juxing Shopping Centre, commonly known as “Best Price”. The store, located on the eastern side of the souq, was reported to have had huge stocks at the time of the blaze.
The outlet next to the Chinese Shopping Centre, Al Nama Super Market, suffered minor damage. An office, Mosaic Trading, was gutted.
On the western side of the souq too, many shops were damaged. Among those were Dar Al Thaqafah Book Store and Century Sports.
The offices of two business groups, Mubarak bin Saleh al-Khulaifi & Sons and Saleh bin Hassan al-Ansari and Company, both on the first floor of the building, were gutted.
An official of the Al Khuleifi Group, however, said the company had long shifted its office from the premises. “We had left behind several furniture items in the office,” he said.
According to a source, the building was constructed more than 35 years ago.
Timely action by the Civil Defence personnel prevented the fire from spreading to more shops. “Though some of the shops were damaged, a large quantity of goods could be saved,” said a Civil Defence official.
About 70 Civil Defence personnel with more than a dozen fire engines tackled the blaze.
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