A fire affected the second level of the Plaza Central shopping center in Santo Domingo last night, causing panic among dozens of shoppers who were there at the time. The fire started at around 7pm in a unit that was being refitted for a new jewelry store, according to the mall administrator. The cause of the fire is investigated by the Fire Department.
The blaze and smoke also affected a clothing store next door, according to the chief of the Santo Domingo Fire Department, Oscar Guillermo Garcia, who was in the mall as the fire was extinguished. Five units of the fire department arrived on the scene, including an ambulance.
Plaza Central administrator Hugo Molina said that the mall was evacuated as soon as the fire was discovered. He added that the damage caused by the fire in the three-story building was limited to the two units.
Plaza Central will be open for business today with a hallways sale.
During the incident, hundreds of curious onlookers watched and took pictures with their cell phones. Witnesses described their experiences as they left the building, saying that the hallways had filled with smoke. No injuries were reported.