A fire that broke out on Sunday morning at the Sidi Abdessalem municipal market in the capital left one dead, one of the market traders, according to consistent local sources cited by Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP).
A Civil Protection source indicated that Civil Protection units managed to bring the blaze under control, which had ravaged large parts of the market since the early hours of the morning.
A local official, who preferred to remain anonymous, told TAP reporters on the scene that “the market has completely burned down.” He estimated that an electrical short circuit was the cause of the fire’s ignition around 6 a.m., noting that the fire was brought under control around 10 a.m., before the cooling operations for the site began.
The same source added that as soon as the fire was reported, the various competent services were alerted, including Civil Protection, the Interior Ministry, the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company, as well as representatives of the various local authorities.
The Sidi Abdessalem market is regarded as one of Tunis’s most well-known popular markets. Located in the Bab Saadoun district, it brings together dozens of shops and spaces dedicated to the sale of second-hand goods and various items, as well as vegetables and fruits. It experiences a significant daily turnout from consumers.
