Fire breaks out at market in Erbil's Shakhlawa district

ERBIL, Iraq — A fire broke out at a market in the Shakhlawa district of Erbil on Monday, with security sources reporting flames rising in the bazaar. Firefighting teams were dispatched to the scene, and the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined. Shop owners and residents rushed to evacuate their stores as the fire spread to neighboring businesses. Emergency crews continued efforts to contain the flames, according to officials, who said operations to bring the fire under control were ongoing. Shakhlawa is a small district located east of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Damage assessments are expected to begin once firefighting operations are completed. No casualties were reported in the initial accounts.