TAK, Thailand – A fire at a customs storage yard in Tak province, near the Thai-Myanmar border, destroyed approximately 200 seized vehicles awaiting auction, authorities said on Wednesday.
The fire broke out late on Tuesday evening at the yard near the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot district. More than 10 fire trucks from various agencies, along with administrative and military personnel, battled the blaze for over three hours before it was brought under control.
Initial investigations revealed that the yard held nearly 800 vehicles seized by the Mae Sot Customs Office, pending auction. Witnesses reported that the fire started without a clear cause, and no one reported seeing the initial outbreak.
Forensic officers from Provincial Police Region 6, along with customs officials, inspected the scene on Wednesday morning. They found approximately 200 vehicles, mostly older models, heavily damaged by the fire. The remaining vehicles were spared due to the swift firefighting efforts. The forensic team spent several hours collecting evidence, but the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
Police Major General Raweephat Amornmunipong, acting commander of Tak Provincial Police, stated that the seized vehicles had been held for over seven years. They were originally intended for export but were confiscated after failing to meet legal deadlines. The vehicles were awaiting auction, but no bids had been received due to their age.
Authorities are considering various potential causes, including a nearby grass fire, but have not ruled out other possibilities. A thorough forensic investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the blaze, which is considered the largest fire involving seized goods in the Mae Sot border area.
Phanthong Loykulanant, spokesperson for the Customs Department, reported that a fire broke out at the Mae Sot Customs Office involving over 200 seized vehicles. The fire has since been brought under control. There were no injuries or fatalities during the incident.
The Customs Department’s director-general is awaiting the results of the police investigation to determine the cause of the fire. This is a significant event, as such a large number of vehicles have never been involved in a similar incident before. The vehicles included both old, unusable cars and those involved in ongoing legal cases. The spokesperson confirmed that no luxury cars were involved in the fire and stated that further investigation will provide clarification on the facts. (TNA)
