New Delhi (Mizzima) - A market in Moulmein town of Mon state in Southern Burma was burnt down to ashes after a fire broke at one of the shops on Monday evening, local police and reports said.

A police officer from the Moulmein township police station told Mizzima over telephone that the fire began at about 6 in evening and consumed almost all the shops in the market.

He, however, decline to further elaborate on the devastation saying the fire was distinguished by local fire brigade while the police force is still investigating in to the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, a Thailand based Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA), which extensively covers Mon state of Burma, in its website said, the fire broke out from one of the floating restaurants in the market and subsequently burnt-down the whole market.

According the IMNA, the market, popularly known as the lower bazaar, is the larger market among the two in town and is located on the bank of the Salween River.

Despite fire brigades rushing to the spot, fire fighters were unable to distinguish the fire as it had begun burning strongly, the IMNA said.

According to the IMNA, a shop in the market is likely contain goods and commodities worth about 25 - 30 million kyat (approximately USD 20,000). However, it fails to give the number of shops and restaurants that are in the market.

The local police, with whom mizzima was able to contact, also denied providing the number of shops or an estimate of the lost that might be incurred by the fire.