The Rotary Club
of Jomtien-Pattaya

VOL.VII NO.24     -      11 June 1999

News | Business News  | Features | Columns | Letters | Sports | Mail Market | Sports Round-Up

Naklua fire leaves 63 homeless

Causes estimated 5 million in damages

Twenty families and 63 people were left homeless after a catastrophic fire ripped through a Naklua slum community on May 31st.

Sitting through the debris, trying to find anything salvageable.

It took Pattaya firefighters over an hour to bring the fire under control. Most of the dwellings in the area were constructed from wood, causing the fire to burn especially quick. Ten buildings were burnt to the ground, with damages estimated at five million baht.

Fire fighting efforts were hampered by a throng of people gathered in the area of the fire. Some were trying to help put the fire out and/or salvage belongings.

Investigation indicated the fire started at the home of a 58 year old woman. The woman told authorities that she was home every day looking after three small children. After they finished their meal they were sitting in front of the house when all of a sudden they heard an explosion. When she turned to look, the flames were already enveloping the wooden house. She called out to others in the area to come and help but it was too late to save her home. She stated confidently that it was not caused by the gas tank because she had just swept the area after finishing the meal and always checked to ensure the tank valve is turned off.

Continued