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

Flames and smoke were visible all over Patong at the height of the blaze

Phuket Blaze Razes Shanties, Poor Patong Families Left Homeless

Monday, January 24, 2011
A LARGE fire ravaged a shanty town in Patong last night, forcing Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha to call in fire units from Phuket City as the blaze threatened to grow out of control.

About 40 families, mostly street vendors or egg-and-nuts salespeople, had their simple homes destroyed and were sheltered overnight at Patong's local council offices.

The search for accommodation for some of Patong's poorest citizens is expected to begin today in the aftermath of one of the biggest fires Phuket has seen. Officials were meeting this morning to try to provide the best possible housing for the displaced fire victims.

Patong Police Superintendent Arayapan Pukbuakao told Phuketwan: ''We saw the fire growing larger and larger and it was not being beaten, so we called to Major General Pekad Tantipong [Phuket Police Commander] and Governor Tri.''

The fire was eventually brought under control by two fire units from Patong, with the assistance of two more from Phuket City. Volunteers joined in to douse the blaze. Noticed at 9am, it was still smouldering an hour later.

The blaze razed corrugated shelters across about one rai in Soi Boontham, near Suwankiriwong school, not far from Patong's landmark temple t-intersection.
Phuket Riddle of Doctor's Death in Resort Pool
Latest Drowning is the likely cause of the death of a doctor in a Phuket resort pool. He took a ''midnight swim'' with several others on flying in, but failed to emerge from the water.
Phuket Riddle of Doctor's Death in Resort Pool

Reef Bans: 'Passionate' Andaman Divers Speak Out
Latest A group of dive operators most severely affected by the sudden closure of Andaman marine park sites explain their desire to see alternative sites opened in the Similans and Surin.
Reef Bans: 'Passionate' Andaman Divers Speak Out

Aussies 'Ripped Off' in Phuket Jet-Ski Scam
Latest A family group of 13 Australians found that they had to pay a total of 72,500 baht to a jet-ski operator who alleged that jetskis had been damaged. The Aussies say they were ripped off.
Aussies 'Ripped Off' in Phuket Jet-Ski Scam

Rohingya Boat, 91 Held on Andaman Coast: Seven More Boats May Be at Sea
Breaking News A boatload of would be Rohingya refugees is apprehended on Thailand's Andaman coast, and Phuketwan believes as many as seven more boats could be sailing south.
Rohingya Boat, 91 Held on Andaman Coast: Seven More Boats May Be at Sea

Patong Raid Nets Copy Watch Vendors
Latest Although many tourists enjoy buying copy watches and other items, the sale of pirate goods is illegal. Police nabbed four vendors and imitation watches valued at one million baht.
Patong Raid Nets Copy Watch Vendors

Khao Lak Resorts Rebel Against Tax Increase
Latest Five star and four star resorts are not known for being particularly rebellious. But some big brands in Khao Lak have rejected a request by the local council to double the room rate tax.
Khao Lak Resorts Rebel Against Tax Increase

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

Why did Patong not send more units ???? They have more then 6 firetrucks !
Or they where busy doing something else ?` Why the hell have so many trucks when not use them.

Posted by peter on January 24, 2011 16:35

Editor Comment:

Normally a fire station would have a number of trucks but it might not have crews to man those trucks on duty 24 hours a day.

gravatar

Phuket is expensive, live or die here, you are expendable.
Sorry for your loss.

Posted by Robin on January 25, 2011 11:20

gravatar

The Patong Rotary Club has approved a B 50,000 emergency fund, and collected B 6,300 to date, to help the people who lost their homes. We're buying mosquito netting and waterproof mattresses today, and will take them with donated clothes to the site this afternoon.

If anyone would like to help us, we've designated a Rotary Charity account for relief donations: Bangkok Bank account 563-0-64310-3.

Posted by Woody Leonhard on January 26, 2011 13:51


Tuesday May 14, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter