Minbya residents worry that empty market, drinking crowd spells fire hazard

By DMG 27 Mar 2021

DMG Newsroom
27 March 2021, Minbya
 
Residents of Minbya town in Arakan State are worried about fire hazards at the new Kin Seik market, a space that was built for roadside vendors but, because there are currently no vendors, is instead being used by a group of people as a sheltered place to imbibe.
 
Daw Nu Aye Kyi, a resident of Kin Seik ward, said the fire risk was elevated in the summer months.
 
“If they were to leave a lit cigarette, all the stalls would be burnt down,” she said.
 
The market was built in 2015 and there are a total of 108 stalls.
 
“The market faced a situation of the risk of fire because of drunken people. I do not see any security staff there now. I want the relevant authorities to do something to prevent the market from being burnt,” said Ko Htoo Aung Khant, who lives near the market.
 
The town’s Development Affairs Committee had already allocated funds to the market management committee to fence off the space, and they are working with market committee members for the market’s security, said U Kyaw Win Khaing, chair of Minbya town’s Development Affairs Committee.
 
“Three vendors are opening their shops now in the market. So, children are playing in the vacant stalls. Security staff come at night,” he said.
 
There were many vendors when Kin Seik market first opened, but the number of vendors has steadily dwindled since fighting between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army began in late 2018.