Hargeisa (AX) – As shadows deepened over the Gobonimo Market on a seemingly unassuming Sunday night, an unexpected inferno erupted, casting a crimson glare against the sky. The furious blaze, now quelled through tireless efforts, has etched scars of both devastation and financial despair that may take time to heal.
In the wake of the conflagration, former Hargeisa Mayor Abdirahman Soltelco extended heartfelt gratitude to the heroes of the hour. “I extend my deepest thanks to the fire brigade, police force, and military personnel,” he expressed earnestly. “Their valiant cooperation brought the fire under control, saving the market from complete incineration.”
Yet, the echoes of triumph are minged with profound grief. One story stands out—of a resolute woman whose dreams lay in tatters. Her voice, layered with anguish, resonates time and again through the shattered marketplace. “It’s as if a part of my soul has been incinerated with my shop,” she lamented, describing the surreal moment when she arrived, only to find her livelihood reduced to ashes overnight.
As the city’s heart weeps, the conversation gently pivots towards those responsible for maintaining the infrastructure. Traders and bystanders unite in their critique, pointing fingers at the decrepit roads that inhibited rescue efforts, allowing the flames unbridled freedom. “Here, even a humble cart meets its nemesis amidst the rubble,” a witness noted, drawing a poignant picture of neglect that stoked the flames further.
But what flicked the initial spark? As it stands, the genesis of this fiery beast remains cloaked in mystery, investigated under the watchful eyes of authorities. Early whispers hint at possible culprits: treacherous electrical circuits or carelessly stored flammable materials, each a ticking time bomb waiting to implode.
In this confluence of chaos and recovery, we are reminded: How fragile are our constructs of safety? How do we weave resilience into the fabric of our daily lives, ensuring that the merchants who color our world with their creativity are safeguarded against unforeseen calamities?
Let this disaster serve as a clarion call—the incense of smoldering dreams urging us to pave roads not just with concrete but consciousness. For in nurturing our streets, bridges, and pathways, perhaps we can also repair the invisible threads of hope, frayed but never sundered.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
