Fire tore through a pet market in Chatuchak district early yesterday morning, with thousands of animals believed killed, including many exotic species.
The Chatuchak district office said the fire started at about 4.10am at Sri Somrat market, which has 118 pet shops in an area covering 1,400 square metres. The market is behind the JJ Mall shopping centre on Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road.
Firefighters from several stations rushed to the scene. It took about half an hour to put out the blaze.
Vendors said they lost a large number of animals, including ornamental fish, cats, dogs, birds and monkeys, and exotic species.
One vendor said the fire started in a dog shop where the owners normally left electric fans turned on all night to keep the animals comfortable. The vendor believed thousands of animals had died in the fire, which spread quickly through the market area.
The Chatuchak district office was assessing the damage to the market and to individual vendors so assistance could be provided.