Explosion was heard.” What caused the fire in Kibray?

On July 23, a fire broke out in a household goods store on Alisher Navoi Street in the Kibray district of the Tashkent region, spreading to two nearby houses. A QALAMPIR.UZ correspondent visited the scene to investigate the situation.

According to Major Abduzhabbor Dusanov, Deputy Head of the Kibray District Emergency Situations Department, the fire was reported at 10:50 a.m.

“Five fire and rescue crews arrived at 10:57. The fire was contained at 11:17 and fully extinguished by 11:50,” Dusanov said.

Initially, it was believed that only one house was damaged. However, when reporters arrived, the destruction turned out to be much more extensive. Witnesses said they heard an explosion during the incident, believed to have come from household items stored inside.

“When I arrived, the fire was coming from the neighbor’s side. They said something exploded inside the store, maybe from a ‘soldier’s’ fire, but we don’t know yet. By the time I got there, the firefighters were already working. My brother and his son were at home—both barely found each other in the thick black smoke and escaped,” said one of the victims.

Another resident said he suffered smoke inhalation during the fire and was taken to the hospital.

“I’m fine now, but my stomach hurts because of the gas and smoke smell. The black smoke was so heavy. I don’t breathe through my nose, only through my mouth, so I swallowed a lot of smoke,” he explained.