The Lyambai shopping complex, whose roof caved in as a result of the blaze, housed a furniture repair business, a liquor vending outlet, and a grocery shop.

Both the Police and the Town Council were not immediately available for comment.

A source said some residents were dissatisfied with the length of time firefighters took to rush to the scene of the blaze. Firefighters took over two hours to extinguish the fire that sent a thick column of smoke into the air.

Initial investigations have apparently indicated the fire might have been caused by faulty wiring.

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