Yesterday, Wednesday 2 January, around midday, dozens of businesses caught fire in the center of San Francisco de Macoris, where San Francisco Billini-Olegario Teneras Street meets Papi Olivier and where the Old Market is based.
So far the authorities have no idea how the fire started but say that the losses run into millions.
The fire was eventually extinguished by the fire brigade, headed by General Luis Elias Esmurdoc, but according to witnesses the lack of water meant that they could not control the blaze in time.
The same area was actually totally burned down before, over 40 years ago.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2013/1/2/260709/Incendio-afecta-varios-negocios-en-San-Francisco-de-Macoris