KABUL, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out at a market opposite to Shah-e-Doshamshira, a well-known mosque, in downtown Kabul on Saturday, gutting numerous shops, a senior police official said.
"The fire broke out early Saturday morning in Timoor Shahi locality of Police District 1 after second floor of a line of two-storey buildings caught fire. The fire was put off by fire department personnel within hours," Abdul Azim Uryakhil told Xinhua near the site.
The blaze sent a thick black smoke to rise in the area, which is located near to the business hub in the city.
Several shops used as warehouses by local traders were damaged on the second floors.
The reason behind the fire, the shopkeepers said, was explosion of a gas-balloon.
An investigation was underway to ascertain how much property losses, the incident had left, but no death or injuries have been reported, the police official said.
