A view of the Al-Moaisim furniture market in Makkah. — Okaz photoHatim Al-Masoudi Okaz/Saudi GazetteMAKKAH – Although Makkah Civil Defense cut off its electricity a year ago for violations of safety regulations, shops in Al-Moaisim used furniture market are still open. The Civil Defense cut the market's main connection to Makkah's power grid after the heaps of used furnitures scattered all over the market were deemed a fire hazard. Shopkeepers were told to store their furniture in accordance with regulations. Residents say the shops are still openly flaunting government regulations and have called on authorities to close the market as the rising summer temperatures increase the chance of a fire breaking out. Salim Al-Hudaili described the market as a ticking bomb that could go off any minute due to the accumulation of garbage, used furniture, and gas cylinders. He called on authorities to force the shops to remove all junk and trash from the market as soon as possible. Col. Ali Al-Muntashiri, spokesman for Makkah Civil Defense, said electricity will only be restored to the market when all safety requirements have been met.
