Tuesday, April 19, 2022, around 4:00 a.m., a fire broke out in the Beaudoin market, the largest public market in Jacmel, more precisely in the "Brazil" section devoted to imported products, which covers 2/3 of the commercial surface and the "Chile" section which includes merchants’ makeshift warehouses.

The damage are very importants and a first estimate of the Town Hall of Jacmel evokes losses of more than 40% of the goods stored in the market and considerable economic consequences.

"It's a blow for the Jacmel community," said Loudie César, the mayor of Jacmel, visibly affected by the tragedy, who is asking the police for help to prevent looting.

Firefighters had great difficulty containing the fire due to a lack of sufficient capacity water trucks.

Tuesday morning, the merchants tried to find in the still smoking debris what could be salvaged. Many people have lost everything except their debts contracted with micro-credit companies...

Fortunately, no loss of human life has been reported so far.

First reactions :

Acting Prime Minister Arriel Henry :

“I learned with shock that a violent fire broke out early this morning at the Baudouin market in Jacmel. I have ordered an investigation to determine the origin of this disaster. I extend my sympathy to the victims, while assuring them of the strong support of the Government"

Senator Joseph Lambert :

"The fire at the Jacmel market caused considerable damage. Goods went up in smoke, merchants were desperate and decapitalized in an already difficult socio-economic context. An investigation is needed to determine who is responsible," Senator Joseph Lambert

BINUH :

"The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) is moved by the devastation caused by the fire at the Beaudoin market in Jacmel early this morning and expresses its solidarity with the traders who lost their goods there."

SL/ TB/ HaitiLibre