BANGKOK, 25 April 2014 – Wildfires have broken out in a forest reserve in the southern province of Chumphon province due to dryness caused by the lack of rain. Strong winds have worsened the fires and sent smoke to a wide area.
The forest fires erupted on Friday in the forest reserve in Mueang district. Fire fighters and volunteers from the Hat Sai Ri Municipality were still unable to control the flames since they could not enter the inner part of the burning forest.
The firefighters however prevented the wildfires from reaching nearby houses and Pak Nam Witthaya School as well as a Novotel hotel located less than 300 meters from the forest. More than 500 Rai of land were destroyed by the fires.
