Fire breaks out near Syria's ministry

A fire broke out near the Syrian Ministry of High Education in capital Damascus on Sunday, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky, local media said. The target of the fire remains unknown. The local Ajel news network said the fire started in one of the ministry's warehouses, while other reports said the smoke was caused by a fire that gutted plastic materials stored in the adjacent Free Zone area. Further details about the incident are still forthcoming. Last Wednesday, huge fire spread out in one of Damascus' oldest popular markets. The state-run SANA news agency said the fire erupted in an old house in the Sarouja market, adding that it has spread and damaged several commercial shops.