PHUKET: First victims of last night's huge SuperCheap blaze were being treated early today at Phuket's largest public hospital.

Doctors and nurses were also ready if necessary for bodies.

Among the first patients was a young boy with burns to a foot. He is Burmese, and could not speak Thai or English. Others followed.

A Thai woman was being treated for a wound she suffered as she fell while running for for the exit.

''There was no fire alarm,'' she said. ''Everybody just started running for the door.''

Relatives of people who cannot be yet accounted for were also gathering early today at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City, the island's biggest public hospital.

Thei had tried to contact family members by mobile telephone, and been unable to raise them.

With the huge blaze reported to be still spreading, the island's entire firefighting force had joined the battle.

After midnight, it was still spreading out of control to a metal working shop and a car rental store.

Public Health department officials said there were 10 medical teams on standby at the scene of the fire.

But with the blaze still burning out of control, they had not been able to move in to see whether there are burns victims still among the ruins.

Most of the cars had been moved out safely.


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