Huge blaze leaves 58 homes damaged, three injured in Bangkok

Three people were injured and 58 houses and shophouses were destroyed or damaged in a huge fire that swept through a densely populated community in Bangkok's Pathum Wan district on Monday morning.

The fire broke out at about 7.50am and spread quickly to neighbouring houses. It burned for about five hours before firefighters managed to bring it under control.

A temporary shelter has been set up at Wat Sa Kaeo School to accommodate those displaced by the fire. So far, about 40 families have taken refuge there, with officers from Pathum Wan Police Station providing security while volunteers supply food, water and other necessities.

A police team has also been assigned to the shelter to take statements from fire victims.

One of those displaced, Sumalee, told reporters that she lived about two houses away from the property where the fire is believed to have started. She said she heard two or three loud bangs before the fire broke out and saw black smoke billowing from the burning houses.

Within about 10 minutes, she said, her own house had caught fire. She fled in panic, managing to rescue only one of her six dogs, while the rest of her belongings were lost in the blaze.

Forensic officers have inspected the scene but have not yet been able to determine the cause of the fire or pinpoint exactly where it started.