SAMUT PRAKAN - A fire broke out at a community under the bridge across Khlong Chuat Lak Khao at kilometre marker No.12 on the outbound Bang Na-Trat Highway in Bang Phli district. One man was killed and about 30 shelters damaged, police said.
Pol Capt Chawanai Marasri, deputy chief investigator of Bang Kaew police, said a number of fire trucks from nearby local administration organisations were despatched to the scene on being alerted about the fire which broke out at about 8.30pm.
Traffic on both sides of the highway was closed to allow the fire engines to combat the fire. The blaze was brought under control in about one hour. About 30 makeshift shelters of homeless people in a 100-square-metre area under the bridge were damaged.
One man, identified only as Sombat, was killed.
Chartchai Uthaipan, the Samut Prakan governor, instructed local administration officials to provide assistance for people left homeless by the fire.
He said officials from both the Rural Roads Department and the Expressway Authority of Thailand would conduct an examination on Sunday morning to find out if the fire had caused any damage to the bridge.
The cause of the fire was being investigated.