Thailand: Fire at Mae Surin refugee camp, at least 30 people dead

At least 30 people were killed in a fire at a refugee camp in Khun Yuam district on March 22, according to the Bangkok Post.

The fire broke out at Mae Surin refugee camp at 6 p.m. and spread to several other camps.

A refugee camp near the Thai-Myanmar border - Photo: AFP

The fire destroyed about 200 of the 281 houses in the camp, which were mostly made of bamboo and thatched with hay, said Pol Col Nitinart Witthayawuthikul, head of Khun Yuam district police. About 1,800 ethnic Karen refugees from Myanmar were living in the camp, he said.

A senior official said most of the dead were women, elderly people and children. About 200 injured people are currently hospitalized. All the victims have been evacuated to a temporary shelter.

Initial investigations showed that a refugee cooking in the kitchen started a fire that caught on the wooden wall and quickly spread to other houses.

“I feel sorry about this incident because so many people died,” Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said. “The casualties should not have been so high. The cause of the fire will be clearly investigated.”

According to Tuoitre - DT