CHACHOENGSAO - A fierce fire raged through a community at an old market in Phanom Sarakham district at dawn on Saturday, destroying seven shophouses and forcing residents to flee in panic.
Nobody was injured in the blaze that broke out at the Tha Kwian market community in Village Moo 1 in tambon Phanom Sarakham, said Pol Maj Surapisit Maingam, investigation chief at Phanom Sarakham police station, who was reported at 7am.
More than 10 fire trucks from the tambon and nearby areas were deployed to the scene to combat the fire that was raging through two-storey shophouses before spreading to other wooden shops and houses built in a row. Residents hurriedly removed their belongings.
Firefighters managed to put the fire under control at 9.17am. Seven shophouses were reduced to ashes.
Pol Maj Surapisit said the cause of the fire remained unknown for the time being. Nobody was inside the two shophouses -- one selling bicycles and the other selling oyster omelets -- which were engulfed in flames when firemen arrived. Police had yet to find out which shop caught fire first.
Forensic police were collecting evidence to establish the cause of the blaze, said the investigation chief.
