MAE HONG SON, March 23 — At least 33 displaced Myanmar living at a temporary camp in the northern province of Mae Hong Son died Friday in a raging fire, while over hundred others were injured.
The fire which started at around 4 pm on Friday has destroyed about 420 houses, mostly made of bamboo and roofed with dried grass, at the Ban Mae Surin camp in Mae Hong Son’s Khun Yuam district.
About 3,000 people, mostly from Myanmar’s Karen minority, live at the camp. More than 100,000 refugees live in Thai camps near the Myanmar border, mostly ethnic Karen who fled fighting between Karen groups and the Myanmar government.
The fire was under control about two hours later and those who lost their shelters were being temporarily housed in tents provided by Thai authorities and the private sector.
A 33rd body were found this morning. It was expected that casualties could reach at least 60.
Department of Provincial Administration director general Chuan Sirinanthaporn said the blaze was believed to have been started by a cooking accident. He said officials were inspecting the scene and believed more bodies would be found.
