NAIROBI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed and more than 60 others injured after a fire broke out at dawn Thursday at Kenya's largest open air market Gikomba, located in the downtown area of the capital.
Emergency rescue agency St. John Ambulance confirmed the death toll after a huge inferno suspected to have been started by business rivals razed down several business premises.
"At least nine people feared dead, 58 injured, property worth millions destroyed after a fire outbreak at Nairobi's Gikomba market at 2 a.m. local time (2300 GMT on Wednesday). Victims were rushed to KNH (Kenyatta National Hospital)," St. John Ambulance said.
Witnesses said some of the victims escaped with serious burns while others choked after inhaling toxic fumes as they battled to salvage their property.
The fire that lasted hours destroyed property worth millions of U.S. dollars while affecting small-scale traders whose livelihood depends on selling second-hand clothes, groceries and electronic gadgets in the market.
Firefighters on Thursday morning were still battling the inferno that had earlier been reported to have been put out.
