About fifty shops have reportedly been destroyed by fire in Malakia market last night.

A police officer from Malakia Police, Alphonse Legge said the fire was caused by a gas cylinder which exploded at midnight.

“It’s just started with explosion of a gas canister and then when it exploded, it flew up, and the fire spread to the other shops and burnt more than 50 shops. When we called those of fire brigade they came and started extinguished the fire,” said Mr Legge.

Officer Legge said several warehouses were consumed by the fire.

He said investigations are still ongoing.