Almaty traders harmed by fire complain about plundering

Almaty flea market traders complain that some of the goods were plundered during the fire, Tengrinews correspondent reports from the burned down market. “There was plundering. People were running around evacuating the goods, but some of the people were stealing boxes instead of saving them; boxes of shows and other goods. “We have nothing left, we all have loans to pay on. And none of the goods were ensured,” Zhanar Primbetova, one of the traders who have gathered near the market today said. Commenting the complaints today, the Interior Department of Almaty told Tengrinews that no complaints of plundering taking place at the flea market on September 13 have been filed so far. “No complaints have been filed. There are no confirmed cases of plundering. Officers from Zhetyssu Region Police Department and Almaty Interior Department were present at the site, they were maintaining order. If any complaints are filed we will handle them,” the Department replied. 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.