A massive fire has destroyed more than 100 warehouses at the clothing market in Tirana’s 5 Maji neighborhood late on Thursday, leaving traders facing losses worth hundreds of thousands of euros, authorities and witnesses said.

The blaze engulfed two large warehouse structures, known as Hangars A and B, with a total surface area of about 10,000 square meters. A day after the fire, drone footage showed an apocalyptic scene, with the market reduced to ashes and debris.

Firefighters returned to the area on Tuesday after several hotspots reignited. Five fire engines remain on site to keep the situation under control, officials said.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical spark. Security camera footage obtained by Report TV shows small flames at the initial stage of the fire before they spread rapidly, fueled by highly flammable textile materials. Experts said the color of the flames is consistent with an electrical cause.

Affected traders told Report TV that their businesses were uninsured. They said they paid monthly rent to Dinamo sha, ranging from about 38,000 to 45,000 Albanian lekë, depending on the size of their storage units. Several traders reported damages reaching up to 200,000 euros.

“This was my entire life,” one trader said, adding that insurance companies had refused to insure the warehouses due to the type of construction. Others criticized the firefighting response, claiming it was inadequate.

The warehouses are owned by several shareholders under the company Dinamo sha, with the majority stake held by the owner of a flour factory.

An investigative team is working to determine the exact cause of the fire.