Damascus firefighters Tuesday recovered at least 11 bodies from a fire that broke out in a shopping center in the Syrian capital, Damascus, according to the Syrian News Agency (SANA).

"The members of the Damascus Fire Brigade put out a fire that broke out at dawn today in the entire building (La Mirada Mall) on Hamra Street in Damascus," SANA reported.

A source in the Damascus Fire Brigade told AFP that investigations are underway to find out the cause of the fire, asking everyone to stay away from the place to facilitate the work of the civil defense teams.

AFP’s correspondents in Damascus saw several floors completely burned, and more than thirty shops in the middle and in the vicinity of the commercial center damaged.