HARGEISA (SD) -Heavy fire broke out today in Somaliland’s biggest and main market of Hargeisa, causing heavy financial losses.

Police and volunteers using fire trucks could be seen trying to put out the blaze, and efforts are still under way to prevent the blaze from spreading to other areas.

The scene of the fire was overrun by security forces as well as some owners who wanted to vacate their properties before the fire spread to the rest of the market.

Hargeisa Mayor Abdikarin Ahmed Mooge told the media that the fire destroyed a lot of property, but no casualties have been reported so far.

Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi and opposition party leaders arrived at the scene to asses the damage.

Reports from Jigjiga town, the regional capital of the Somali Region in Ethiopia say that the government has sent the first aid team to help put out the fire that broke out in Waheen market in Hargeisa.

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia mourns the loss of property due to the fire that broke out in the main market of Hargeisa tonight.

Waheen Market in the center of Hargeisa and is home to thousands of small and medium businesses.