Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Kaw Meechai tells how she ran to save her son in the blaze

Lucky Escape as Phuket Blaze Makes 85 Homeless

Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Fire Photo Album Above

A GAS explosion in a Phuket sea gypsy village sparked a blaze that led to the destruction of 17 homes yesterday afternoon.

Today help was coming by the pickup load for 85 people made homeless at Hin Lookdew, in the island's north, as one mother told of her young son's lucky escape.

The boy, aged 18 months, was asleep at home when Kaw Meechai, 30, heard the explosion and saw there was danger as the flames took hold close to her house.

She ran back into the maze of houses and managed to lift her boy to safety.

Another resident who returned as the blaze spread was Leg Suwansiri, 41. She owned a shop in the middle of the houses. But by the time she got to the scene, the fire had reached her shop.

She knew there were three gas bottles inside, so she told others to stay clear.

Firemen were called about 1.30pm but took about three hours to bring the blaze under control.

The lack of easy access made their job difficult. Because the homes were mostly of timber and corrugated iron and constructed closely together, the blaze took hold and spread easily.

It eventually cause damage estimated at two million baht.

Today the wreckage still smouldered, as a lone dog guarded one destroyed house. A motorcycle with sidecar could be spotted behind the yellow tape that surrounded the destroyed houses.

Acrid smoke filled the air. It was plain that the fire came close to taking other houses. Two on the edge had lost one wall to the flames.

This afternoon, rice cookers were stacked on a table for distribution, villagers were sitting around planning what to do next, and Phuket charity foundations and officials began arriving by the van load to assess how they could help.

The Governor, Wichai Praisa-nob, was at the scene yesterday. The blaze families are likely to be housed with neighbors or in tents until their homes can be rebuilt.

Gifts for the victims can be left at Provincial Hall.

Hin Lookdew is in the island's far north, close to the Tachatchai checkpoint.

Latest Phuketwan Phuket News

Phuket Half-Yearly Report: All Pain and No Action
Phuket Economic Report With the worldwide downturn, Phuket and Thailand cannot expect tsunami generosity. Revenue will only come with action on the island's enduring defects.
Phuket Half-Yearly Report: All Pain and No Action

Star Fashion Model Shows How to Stay Healthy
Photo Album Tonight brings the end of the first Phuket Fashion Week and a hectic period for Patong and Jungceylon. The superstar models will be moving on.
Star Fashion Model Shows How to Stay Healthy

Phuket Set for Secure Summit, says Defence Chief
Latest Tourism not terrorism is Phuket's stock in trade. Thailand's Defence Minister pays a visit and says that everything appears to be going fine for the big July summit.
Phuket Set for Secure Summit, says Defence Chief

Phuket Prison Crush: Inmate Numbers Rising
Latest The number of inmates at Phuket Prison is increasing at an alarming rate. Eventually, a crisis is likely unless some kind of alternative can be found.
Phuket Prison Crush: Inmate Numbers Rising

Phi Phi Riddle: Pursuing the Deaths of Two Tourists
Latest Phuket police have been called in to probe the deaths of two tourists on Phi Phi, a mystery that continues to puzzle everyone. Norwegian police may be able to uncover a cause.
Phi Phi Riddle: Pursuing the Deaths of Two Tourists

Swimsuits Plus Tata Young: Photo Special
Updating Photo Album Phuket proved last night that it can handle culture its own way. And all Phuket loves Tata Young and swimsuits. Last night was a treat for the eyes and the ears.
Swimsuits Plus Tata Young: Photo Special

Update: Evason Resort Makes 68 Redundant
Updated Report Phuketwan has been told by union sources that the Evason management has handed instant termination notices to a large number of staff at the Rawai resort.
Update: Evason Resort Makes 68 Redundant

MediaWATCH: TAT Forecasts Boost in 2010
News Digest The TAT expects 14 million overseas tourists to Thailand in 2010; China lifts warning; lingerie layoffs; polarised politics; swine flu strikes young; war with North Korea.
MediaWATCH: TAT Forecasts Boost in 2010

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

Tuesday December 3, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter