At least 40 people were Thursday rushed to hospitals for attention following a fire incident at the Gikomba Market, Nairobi.  The incident left many traders with losses after a section that deals with timber and clothes near Kamkunji area was gutted.

St Johns Ambulance said it had by 7 am evacuated up to 40 people from the scene. “At least 40 casualties evacuated by St John Ambulance following huge fire that gutted part of residential and market sections of Gikomba,” said the emergence service provider. They were taken to hospitals for attention.

Witnesses said some of them were trying to salvage their valuables. Police say they are yet to establish the cause of the fire and that efforts to do so are ongoing. The fire broke out at 2.30 am and spread fast to nearby residential houses. Many of the victims were chocked by the smoke from the burning section.

Gikomba Market is mostly known for its traders who sell second-hand clothes. This is not the first time that the market stalls have been razed to the ground and the frequent occurrence of such incidents has raised eyebrows in different quarters with it being labeled the “annual Gikomba Market Fire Festival”.