TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 60 shops were gutted in a fire that broke out in a district bazaar in Afghanistan's northern province of Takhar overnight, local police said Monday.

"A fire which raged Rustaq district bazaar Sunday night was extinguished early Monday but the fire turned to ashes some 60 shops," provincial police spokesman Abdul Khalil Asir told Xinhua.

About 40 shops were also damaged and huge amounts of goods and property were destroyed in the incident, he said.

"Fortunately, no loss of life or injury was reported following the incident" Asir noted.

It was not immediately clear how the fire broke out, said the police official, adding that the investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire has been initiated.