YANGON, April 3, 2024 (BSS/Xinhua) - A devastating fire swept through a municipal market in Kyauktaga Township of Myanmar's Bago region, engulfing shops and houses, an official from the Bago region Fire Services Department said Wednesday.

   No casualties have been reported in the fire that broke out at around 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday, he told Xinhua. Due to the incident, 450 out of the nearly 500 shops in the market, as well as nine nearby houses, were engulfed in flames, he said.

   It took nearly six hours to extinguish the flames, which originated from a barbershop. The cause of the fire, supposed to be an electrical wire failure, is still under investigation, the official said.

The fire damaged many groceries, clothing, and food items. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage and losses, he added.