SANAA — A fire erupted on Sunday in the Madhbah district of Yemen’s capital Sana’a, sending plumes of smoke into the sky and causing panic among residents.

Local witnesses said the blaze spread quickly through several shops and storage facilities in the area, prompting emergency crews to rush to the scene. Firefighters battled the flames for hours before bringing them under control.

Authorities reported no immediate casualties, though several people suffered from smoke inhalation. The fire inflicted heavy damage on property and raised concerns about safety standards in one of the city’s busiest commercial neighborhoods.

Residents criticized the lack of adequate infrastructure and emergency preparedness, noting that repeated incidents highlight the fragile state of public services in Sana’a amid years of conflict. Officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze, with preliminary reports suggesting an electrical fault may have been responsible.