KUNDUZ — A major fire swept through a well-known shoe market in the center of Kunduz city early Friday morning, inflicting significant damage and sending thick plumes of smoke over the skyline of the northern city, according to local sources.
The blaze erupted in the “Sarai Chaplaq” market, a bustling hub for shoe vendors located near Kunduz’s central intersection. Videos and photographs shared on social media showed heavy smoke blanketing the area as panicked shopkeepers rushed to salvage goods from their burning stores.
Despite the arrival of firefighting crews, witnesses said the fire continued to spread rapidly. As of midday Friday, the cause of the fire remained unclear, and officials had not released an estimate of losses or confirmed whether any injuries were reported.
“There was chaos everywhere,” said Ahmad, a local shopkeeper who spoke by phone. “The fire started suddenly, and within minutes, the whole market was in flames.”
No official statement has yet been issued by local Taliban authorities, who control the city and oversee emergency response efforts.
The Sarai Chaplaq market is one of Kunduz’s busiest commercial centers, and the incident has raised fresh concerns about fire safety and emergency preparedness in Afghanistan’s urban areas, where aging infrastructure and limited public services often complicate disaster response.
