A fire outbreak at Takoradi makeshift market in the Western Region has razed down over 100 shops.

The incident, which happened in the wee hours of Monday, destroyed properties worth thousands of cedis.

The fire, according to eyewitnesses, started around 2 am but got out of hand after several attempts to douse the flame proved futile.

It took the National Fire Service over five hours to bring the fire under control and stop it from spreading to other parts of the market.

Speaking to JoyNews’ Ina-Thalia Quansah, some eyewitnesses blamed the severity of the fire on the inaccessibility of the area.

“The Fire Service have really done. I must hand it to them,” a trader noted.

“But people have blocked the roads with their goods; that’s why the fire got this intense. If it wasn’t for that, the Service would have dealt with it immediately the fire happened,” another bystander added.

Meanwhile, the Western Regional Minister, who doubles as the Acting Municipal Chief Executive of Takoradi, Kwabena Okyere-Darko-Mensah has, visited the scene after the fire was brought under control.

He said the assembly, as a matter of urgency, will ensure the reconstruction of the affected stores within this week.