PHAYAO: A parked car burst into flames in Muang district on Wednesday morning, causing residents living in commercial buildings to flee in panic. No casualties were reported.
Fire totally engulfed the Toyota Prius, with Bangkok licence plates, parked in front of one of six commercial buildings on Phayao-Padaed Road in tambon Tha Wangthong around 6.30am.
Rescue workers who rushed to the scene tried unsuccessfully to use fire extinguishers to douse the flames, as people living inside the buildings fled to safety.
The owner of the fire-gutted car tells police what happened. (Photo by Saiarun Pinaduang)
Later, fire trucks arrived and the crews took about 15 minutes to put out the blaze.
Car owner Sureerat Takahashi, 50, told police she had returned from Japan about 10 days ago and had no conflict with anyone. The car was parked in front of her commercial building. When it caught fire she was inside watching TV.
She heard neighbours shouting that there was a fire, immediately went out to see and found flames shooting from the car's engine. She went inside to get the car keys to open it, but when ran back out to her car the fire had already spread throughout the vehicle.
During her stay in Japan, the car had been left unused at another house for several months before she returned home.
She suspected rats might have bitten through electrical wiring inside the vehicle, causing a short circuit.
The burnt out Toyota Prius after the fire on Wednesday morning. (Photo by Saiarun Pinaduang)