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28.06.09 Fire engulfs Patong beach road building
Source: Phuketgazette
FAMILIAR SITE: The building is now blocked from view with corrugated zinc panels.
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The charred remains of one of the souvenir stalls.
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PATONG,
PHUKET: In the latest fire to hit the beach road in Patong, an Indian
restaurant, a tailor shop and a pharmacy were gutted in a pre-dawn
blaze Thursday morning.
The fire broke out at about 3am at a two-story building on the corner of Soi Post Office, just north of McDonald’s.
Five
fire engines from Patong Municipality were able to contain the blaze,
but two shophouse units selling souvenirs, on the ground floor, and the
“Kwality India and Thai food” restaurant on the second floor were
gutted.
A Siam Commercial Bank exchange booth and ATM machine on the ground floor beneath also sustained some damage.
Those
suffering losses from the blaze were restaurant owner Wirote Umarahada,
43, and souvenir shop owners Surachai Tunkij, 45; Suphin Pimsuwaan, 42;
and Pongpetch Pimsuwaan, 35.
Mr Pongpetch told the Gazette
the fire started on the ground floor and spread very quickly, fueled by
garments, bags, clothes, shoes and other items on sale to passing
tourists.
"I was awakened by a phone call from my brother at
about 3am. By the time I got there everything inside was burned. I have
two stalls inside and the damage to my belongings was about 3 million
baht. Overall, I think the damage will be about eight or nine million
baht.
"I took out an insurance policy a few months ago, but
unfortunately my colleagues were uninsured,” said Mr Pongpetch, who
planned to meet his claims adjuster today.
“I don’t know about
the cause of the fire. I have worked here more than 10 years and there
has never been a fire before. It wasn’t arson like the fires at Jintana Plaza, as we don’t have any conflicts with anyone. We all get along here, just like family,” he said.
Police
forensics and fire department investigators have already visited the
site and will release their findings soon, Mr Pongpetch said, adding
that he would ask his landlord to lower the rent.
Kathu Police
Superintendent Grissak Songmoonnark said all the owners said the fire
started in the middle unit of the building, which comprises three
shophouse units.
Unlike numerous other fires along the beach
road in recent years, the electric cables running along the sidewalk
outside were not damaged.
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