Almaty losers by fire block streets, promise hunger strike

Traders whose goods were damaged by the massive fire at Almaty flea market have attempted to block the street near the market and are promising to go on a huger strike. They demand that the administration of Olzha section of the market compensate them the damages and the police permit them access to their burnt trading spots, Tengrinews correspondent reports from the site. Olzha section is where them fire started on September 13 to later spread to 3 more sections. The traders have been protesting near the burnt markets since 8 in the morning. The fire was very large and their boutiques and goods burned down to nothing. The traders stopped the traffic flow down Rozybakiyev Street and demanded that municipal authorities meet them. Policemen tried to reason with the protesters, asking them to more the protest away from the driveway, to no effect. Later SOBR special police arrived to the side and moved the crown way from the drive way resuming the traffic. ©tengrinews.kz/Roza Yesenkulova According to the police, the traders will be fined for the unauthorized protest and blocking of the road. After some time Deputy Akim (Governor) of Zhetysu Region of Almaty City Makhash Yermukhanbetov arrived to meet the traders. He told them that a committee had created by the city administration to deal with the situation. “No one is going to be admitted inside the market while the investigators are working there and until the investigators report the results,” the said and continued: “I don’t know exactly how much time it is going to take, but no less than two months I sure. “ “The committee is working, your directors have been to the city center, we have talked to them. All the other comments are going to be available later,” he said finishing the meeting. The fire started at 1:33 p.m. on September 13 in Olzha section of the largest flea market of Almaty. Later the fire spilled into Ayan section and partially into Keremet and Alatau sections. The fire was taken under control and stopped from spreading at 7:59 p.m. the same day and completely extinguished only in the morning of the following day at 6:38 a.m. A total of 1518 firefighters, 142 fire engines and 2 helicopters were involved in the massive firefighting operation. B Roza Yesenkulova