A fire broke out early Wednesday morning around 10:40 PM at the small market in the lower district, in the area where secondhand clothes and Malagasy soup vendors operate. The city's fire chief Atoa Andrafanomezantsoa Alain and his team, along with Toamasina's deputy chief Atoa Ratsiraka Roland, arrived with traders and firefighters from the commune. The cause remains unclear, but witnesses who saw the initial flames reported that a Malagasy soup vendor had been grilling beef bones, which may have sparked the fire. An investigation is underway due to the significant damage. The fire lasted six hours before being extinguished, with firefighters continuing to battle remaining flames into the morning, as most of the market is made of wood. Many people arrived at the small market that night to help salvage remaining goods. However, some reported looting during the chaos, with traders claiming some of their rescued merchandise went missing. According to firefighters, the rescue operation was complicated by the large amount of goods piled in the narrow market lanes, with most items already heavily damaged. Despite the challenges, firefighters did their best during the disaster. Many goods inside were destroyed, prompting calls for a telethon to help affected traders and residents who witnessed the devastation. Additionally, one unidentified man was found dead inside the market fire. His identity remains unknown, and the circumstances of his death are unclear. Investigations are ongoing.