Fire destroys 300 shops at Surin border market

No casualties in blaze at Chong Chom market, which took 5 hours to put out

Fire destroys 300 shops at Surin border market
A fierce fire rages through the Chong Chom market in Kap Choeng district of Surin province late Friday night. (Photo: Surin public relations office)

A fire raged through the Chong Chom border market in Kap Choeng district of Surin late on Friday night, destroying more than 300 shops. No casualties were reported.

More than 10 fire trucks, firefighters and rescue teams from the border district and nearby areas were deployed to combat the fire that broke out at the market in tambon Dan about 9.40pm on Friday.

The raging fire forced local residents to flee in panic. Vendors tried to take their goods and belongings at their shops to flee. 

Flames spread quickly as there were many flammable materials such as clothes, beds, furniture, bags, shoes and handicraft products at the market, which housed more than 500 shops.

Local authorities said the fire started in Soi 9 at the market before spreading to other shops. Winds fuelled the fire, which took firemen until 2.50am to bring under control.

An initial survey showed about 320 shops were destroyed. The cause of the blaze was being investigated.

Firemen needed several hours to put out the fire at the cross-border market in Surin. (Photo: Surin public relations office)

More than 300 shops have been destroyed by the fire. (Photo: Surin public relations office)

A huge fire breaks out at Chong Chom border market in Kap Choeng district of Surin at 9.40pm on Friday. Many fire trucks and firemen were sent to the scene to combat the blaze, which was brought under control at 2.50am. (Photos: Surin public relations office Facebook)