Bangkok —
At 4:30 AM, on June 11th, 2024, Bang Sue police officers responded to a fire incident in the pet zone at Chatuchak Market, Bangkok. The blaze caused extensive damage, destroying more than 118 units and resulting in the loss of approximately 1,000 animals.
Rescue services and over 10 fire trucks were dispatched to the scene. The fire, which spread rapidly through the 118 adjacent units in the pet zone, took the officers over an hour to bring under control.
According to reports, a woman identified only as Ms. Meecha, a bird shop employee, informed rescue teams that she first became aware of the blaze due to loud noises from the birds and then heavy smoke appeared that made it difficult to breathe. She then jumped from the second floor to escape the shop.
The pet zone housed a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, rare birds, fish, and other exotic pets. It was estimated that more than 1,000 animals died from the fire incident. Fortunately, there were no human injuries reported, according to Thai national media.
In response to the incident, Chatuchak District officers have set up a temporary booth for affected shop owners to register and report their damages. This booth aims to assist those impacted by the fire and help them with the initial steps towards recovery.
Relevant agencies are now conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. As the authorities work to uncover the source of the blaze, the community at Chatuchak Market begins the difficult process of rebuilding and recovering from this devastating event.
