Volunteer firefighters, together with Asunción city employees, conducted an inspection Tuesday night of the fire hydrants at Mercado Municipal Nº 4, one of the capital's busiest commercial centers and considered at high risk for fires.
The inspection covered pressure, valve condition, and accessibility of fire hydrants in different sectors of the market. Mercado 4 director Alejandro Buzo said the action is part of a prevention plan launched last year, with support from various fire companies. “We cannot ignore what has been happening in other markets, which also serves as a warning,” he stated.
Captain Carlos Céspedes, of the 20th Company of the Paraguayan Volunteer Fire Corps (CBVP), explained that the team verified the full operation of the hydrants. “We checked the stems, the opening keys, the outlets, and the residual pressure,” he detailed. According to him, all inspected hydrants in the Mercado 4 area are operational and capable of responding to large-scale fires.
Despite the positive test results, the Asunción city government admitted that Mercado 4 faces serious structural and prevention problems. Buzo acknowledged that the fire-fighting system of the new building, funded years ago with Itaipu resources, was left unfinished and currently does not work. “There is no hydraulic system nor detection system,” he said. He also warned about structural problems in the area where the building's water tank is located, a situation already reported to the binational entity.
Municipal authorities also pointed out that other city markets have significant deficiencies, especially in electrical installations and deteriorated structures. According to Buzo, one of the main problems occurs during rains, due to leaks and old roofs. The city has started electrical surveys and meter regularization work with the National Electricity Administration (ANDE), but acknowledged budget constraints for major repairs. “There is a fragility in the infrastructure that corresponds to many years of lack of maintenance,” the director argued, insisting that real improvement in safety conditions requires significant investment, not just preventive measures or periodic inspections.