A huge fire which broke out in Merchang in South Darfur has burned more than 190 houses and a large amount of property.

Mustafa Al-Tahir, the commissioner of Merchang, said in a press conference on Tuesday that at least 238 families have lost their belongings and been made homeless as a result of the devastation.

He attributed the rapid spread of the firein Halufto the wind combined with the easily-ignited, local materials that many houses in the region are constructed from. 

The commissioner announced that the state government has taken steps to minimise the level of damage and appealed to national and foreign organizations to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected.