DUSHANBE, August 7, 2013, Asia-Plus – A large-scale fire broke out at the merchandize market in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) yesterday afternoon, according to the Interior Ministry fire department.

“Vendors running shops at the market tried to extinguish the fire on their own, and therefore, the Khorog fire department received the call only 40 minutes after the fire broke out, at 2:50 pm,” the source said.

According to him, the fire destroyed 800 square meters of the market and the damage caused by the fire was estimated at 600,000 somoni.  Firefighters reportedly saved 2 million somoni worth of goods.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.