A fire broke out at a three-storey commercial building in the heart of the border town of Mae Sot in Tak yesterday, causing about 30 million baht of damage.
Shortly after 1am, about 15 fire engines from the Mae Sot Municipality and nearby local administrations, along with hundreds of firefighters and rescue workers, were sent to the commercial building with four shop fronts located in the middle of Pha Charoen market on Mae Sot's main road.
Chaiyapruek Chianthanrak, the Mae Sot district chief, said the fire started in a shop belonging to Vinai Market Company where dried foods, plastic bags and foam boxes were stored. Nobody was in the shop when the fire broke out and there were no reports of deaths or injuries.
While firefighters were tackling the blaze, there was a loud explosion followed by a huge eruption of flames that quickly engulfed the whole building, prompting traders in nearby shops to flee with their belongings.
The fire was brought under control after five hours, by which time most of the goods stored inside the building were destroyed.
The building has been cordoned off. The fire was said to be the largest in Mae Sot in 15 years.