Massive slum fire in Bagnkok

[rickfarang]

 

By Alisa Tang

ASSOCIATED PRESS

 

8:51 a.m. April 23, 2004

 

BANGKOK, Thailand ? A massive fire raced through a slum in downtown Bangkok on Friday, snarling traffic and spewing plumes of black smoke over embassies and five-star hotels, officials said. There were no reports of injuries.

 

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

 

Some 500 houses caught fire early afternoon in the densely populated Thung Mahamek district, said police Sub-Lt. Sompong Buahom. Most of the houses set ablaze were wooden or corrugated steel shacks.

 

Firefighters had difficulty reaching the area and feared strong winds could spread the blaze to nearby buildings, including a police and immigration center and luxury apartment complexes. Embassies and five-star hotels are in the area but not the immediate vicinity.

 

Police ordered the evacuation of two five-story apartment buildings where officers live, one of which had caught fire, firefighter Col. Wichai Krawatanasiri said.

 

But by about 5 p.m., firefighters managed to put out the blaze, Col. Pichai Kriangsiriwattana, deputy director of the Disaster Prevention and Relief Center, told a local radio station.

 

Hundreds of people, some weeping, watched from sidewalks as huge plumes of black smoke rose above the neighborhood. Some residents ran from their homes clutching personal belongings such as television sets, computers and pets.

 

"We didn't have time to get anything out," said Pang-on Porang, a 48-year-old housewife. "The smoke just started rising."

 

Chaingam Kiewsaad, 33, said she fled her house when the fire spread nearby. "It's probably all gone," she said, sobbing. "I couldn't get anything out. Even my car is in there."