Overview
- The Marché du Soleil caught fire in the night from Wednesday to Thursday, Sept. 9–10, and firefighters brought the blaze under control after an hours‑long response.
- Estimates of the area destroyed vary across reports, ranging from roughly 500 square metres to as much as 2,000–2,300 square metres of the bazaar.
- About 70–80 people, including roughly 21 children, were evacuated and unharmed while about 100 marins‑pompiers and around 30 fire engines fought the fire and secured the site because of a high collapse risk.
- The parquet of Marseille has opened a criminal investigation and the division de la criminalité territoriale is leading inquiries after witnesses said a person was seen climbing the market’s grilles minutes before the flames.
- The blaze destroys much of a long‑standing bazaar that had been ordered closed by a court on Sept. 7 and that was a major centre for counterfeit goods after a February operation seized more than 200,000 items worth about €42 million, raising questions about safety, displaced traders and next steps for the site.