A fire destroyed 135 shops at a market in northern Afghanistan.

"Fire destroys 135 shops at market in northern Afghanistan" — Xinhua (via Google News) · Humanitarian & Biosphere

31 Oct 2026Single source

What it means

A fire broke out in an underground market in Balkh province, northern Afghanistan, destroying at least 135 shops. The incident occurred late Friday, October 30, 2026, and was reported by Xinhua news agency. The cause of the fire has not been specified, and there is no immediate information on casualties.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is based on a direct report from Xinhua, a state-run Chinese news agency, which is a reputable secondary source. The reporting appears to be a straightforward account of the event, with no conflicting details found in the search results. The provenance tier indicates the report names a primary source (likely local officials or emergency services), adding to its credibility.

How new

This is genuinely new, reported on October 31, 2026, with the fire occurring the previous night.