A massive fire engulfs a commercial market in Ibb city, with no civil defense.

A massive fire engulfed a large market in the city of Ibb (central Yemen) on Monday, amid a complete absence of civil defense forces affiliated with the (unrecognized) Houthi militia authorities.

Yemeni Youth Net sources reported that a massive fire broke out this morning in the Al-Samit commercial market on Al-Adain Street in the city of Ibb (central Yemen), without the cause being immediately known.

The sources added that the fire, which broke out in a limited area within the market, which houses clothing stores, spread significantly within the market due to the failure to contain it quickly.

Sources indicated that the failure of the Houthi militia's civil defense teams to rush to the scene, despite appeals, exacerbated the disaster and caused the fire to spread to most of the market's shops, amid fears and pleas from residents that it could spread to neighboring homes.

Activists posted videos on social media of the fire and flames rising from the site.

It was not immediately known whether there were any casualties in the incident, which coincided with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, when shops are usually closed.

A major fire devours the Al-Samit market in Ibb city, threatening the surrounding neighborhoods.
The fire started small.
If there was civil defense, the fire would have been controlled.
But the governorate is ruled by a gang like the Houthi group whose only concern is imposing taxes and tributes.
Providing what serves citizens
No one dreams of that
Damn them and those who follow them pic.twitter.com/Imf5rTdFo7

- Ibrahim Asqin (@IbrahimAsqin) March 31, 2025