Ministry of Interior Sets up Committee to Investigate 'Suk Al Thulatha' Supermarket Fire.

Tripoli, 20 January 2015(Lana) The Ministry of Interior has set up a committee to investigate the fire incident at the 'Suk Al Thulatha' supermarket in Tripoli on Monday. ' A short circuit is believed to have ignited the fire in a bakery on the first floor, before it spread to upper floors, Col. Salah Al Smo'i, Assistant Head of Tripoli Security Directorate for Security Affairs said. Fire fighters were unable to contain the fire because it engulfed the central part of the building, and instead concentrated their job on extinguishing the side parts for fear of collapse of portions of the complex, he added. The building was not equipped with fire safety systems, besides that emergency exits were closed as confirmed by National Safety officials, Smo'i said. He praised the effort of the fire fighters from the National Safety Boar, Al Breiga Co., the Libyan Red Crescent and local volunteers who worked tirelessly in a bid to put out the fire. The fire which erupted on Monday on the supermarket building devoured the whole complex, but no one was injured, however three people were treated for burns and gas inhalation, according to medical sources. The complex is a large department store which contains several shops and restaurants and has been in development over the last several months. =Lana=