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🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan /Economy & Trade

Bishkek’s Madina Market Reopens One Week After Fire

From 24.kg · () Russian

Translated from Russian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Traders reopened Bishkek’s Madina market one week after a fire damaged about 1,500 square meters and more than 50 trading containers.
  • Some traders said the market still lacked electricity and adequate conditions, while the administration said it was operating normally amid cleaning and evening repairs.
  • The fire injured two emergency workers, and authorities had previously cited an electrical short circuit as a preliminary cause.

Traders at Bishkek’s Madina market refused to wait another week and reopened for business seven days after a major fire, even though electricity had not yet been restored.

The market administration had advised entrepreneurs to delay reopening, but traders insisted they needed to work. “The sellers did not agree with the administration’s proposal and said that we need to work. That is why the market opened, although there is still no electricity. Of course, it is difficult, but it is better than sitting and waiting,” trader Asel said.

Another trader, who asked not to be named, said the conditions for full-scale trading were still not in place. The administration disputed that account, saying the market was operating normally. “Cleaning is under way, the area is being washed, and repair work is being carried out in the evenings. The information that the market is not fully operating does not correspond to reality,” it said. It directed traders seeking compensation to the management.

The sellers did not agree with the administration’s proposal and said that we need to work. That is why the market opened, although there is still no electricity. Of course, it is difficult, but it is better than sitting and waiting.

· AselA trader explained why vendors reopened the market despite the lack of electricity.

The fire broke out on Aug. 30 and covered about 1,500 square meters, damaging more than 50 trading containers. All of Bishkek’s fire trucks were involved in putting it out, and two emergency workers were injured. Authorities had cited a short circuit in the electrical wiring as the preliminary cause and promised help to affected entrepreneurs.

Madina had already been at the center of a dispute over planned reconstruction. Traders had protested proposed moves to the new Ala-Too market, saying rents and the cost of buying stalls there were too high. Authorities said the fire was unrelated to that conflict.

Cleaning is under way, the area is being washed, and repair work is being carried out in the evenings. The information that the market is not fully operating does not correspond to reality.

· Madina market administrationThe administration rejected traders’ claims that the market lacked conditions for normal operations.
About this summary

Originally published by 24.kg in Russian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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