The fire broke out on Sunday early afternoon and was brought under control by the fire brigade with the support of the police.

Flames engulfed around twenty shops in Yaoundé’s central market on Sunday October 27, 2024. According to witnesses, the fire started with a short circuit and spread to the building where Nikki Gros was located. Firefighters and police were able to contain the flames and prevent further damage.

The official death toll has yet to be determined by the authorities at the scene, but preliminary reports indicate that no lives were lost. Some owners of the affected shops estimate individual losses in the tens of millions of CFA francs. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact causes of the incident.

The fire in Yaounde’s central market is reminiscent of the fire in Douala’s Mboppi market, which also occurred at around 2pm on a Sunday.