A Fire At Jintana Plaza In Patong Caused About 5 Million Baht Damage

[NBT TV Phuket]

item---1-- on VDO at http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...php?news_id=968

A fire broke out early Monday at about 3 am at Jintana Plaza on Thawewong Road on Patong beach. 12 fire engines from Patong and Kathu municipalities rushed in and sprayed water to control the blaze so it did not to spread to bars, hotels or restaurants nearby. The fire burnt down garments, shoes and souvenir stalls rapidly amidst difficulty for fire fighters due to thick smoke and untidy wires. It took the team about one hour before they managed to bring the fire under control. About one hundred stalls were found to be damaged by the blaze. Initial reports estimate the damage cost at over 5 million baht. No casualties were reported. Kathu Superintendent Pol. Col. Krissak Son-moon-naak stressed that this is the 7th time the fire occurred at this plaza, with the latest incident on February 12th. He pointed out that they usually occurred between 2-3 am. It still cannot confirm if it was arson this time as the wires are also very untidy and they need to await full investigation and examination results. The Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukhaban insists that the municipality office strictly oversees and supervise businesses and buildings to observe safety rules. He admitted that repeated fires damage Patong’s tourism industry. He insisted that the Patong Municipality is having its team on standby for 24 hours a day to ensure safety for businesses, residents and tourists. The Jintana Plaza is owned by Mrs. Jintana Burinkos, a millionaire who is currently in bad health and has family members looking after the property businesses. Family conflicts last year led to her sister Komkai’s murder in July. Police managed to arrest a gun man, but still need to get to the person behind it. In this fire case, police still have not concluded the causes.

Andaman News NBT TV (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 7pm & 1am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & maybe Mazz Radio FM108 at 7pm in Phuket, Wednesday 18 February 2009 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ & www.YouTube.com/AndamanNews

Send comments to [email protected]

[NBT TV Phuket]

Correction: latest fire was Monday night-Tuesday morning at 3am. Previous fire was last Thursday night 12th-Friday morning 13th.... apologies.

Edited February 18, 2009 by NBT TV Phuket