DUSHANBE, May 10, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- A large fire broke out at Dushanbe’s Shohmansour bazaar in the early hours of Monday morning.

According to the Interior Ministry firefighting department, the fire destroyed the building that housed a billiard-club and a canteen.  “The fire destroyed a space of 300 square meters.  Fire crews managed to prevent the spread of fire to the nearby shops,” the source said, noting that the cause of the fire is under investigation.

A special commission is currently working at the bazaar to assess an actual damage caused by the fire.

260 fires that have been registered in the country since the beginning of this year killed nine persons, leaving another 59 injured.