Firefighters extinguish the fire at a wholesale market in Cà Mau Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

CÀ MAU — Authorities in southern Cà Mau Province are investigating a fire which broke out on Thursday night at a local wholesale market in the city of Cà Mau, injuring five people and burning many goods.

The fire occurred at 9.30pm, starting in a store selling clothing and footwear in Ward 7.

The fire quickly spread to two other shops nearby.

“I smelled the strong smoke and asked everyone to run outside. I saw four people in a burning house jumping from the third floor to the ground. They were injured and taken to the hospital,” a witness said.

Dozens of police, firefighters and three fire trucks were mobilised to extinguish the fire.

Black smoke covered neighbouring areas and many households had to evacuate rapidly.

The fire was stamped out two hours later.

Doctor Lê Hồng Lan of the Emergency Department at Cà Mau General Hospital said five people including a police officer were being treated at the hospital. One person was seriously injured. — VNS