20160208 Myanmar Two fires leave hundreds of families homeless
Myanmar Feb 08 2016 “Houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : more than 70 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Two fires leave hundreds of families homeless
Updated: 2016-02-08
On February 6, residents survey the damage caused by a fire in Namhsan township, Shan State.
In Namhsan on February 4, a fire that began roasting tea leaves caught kindling next to the stove, then lit a wood wall and proceeded to destroy 240 houses in the town, according to reports from the Lashio township Fire Service Department and the Myanmar Fire Brigade.
The fire started at the Khine Thitsar pickled tea leaves wholesale centre at 1:15pm on February 4 and was completely extinguished by 4:30am the next morning.
The cause of the fire and the exact value of lost properties are still being investigated, U Ko Ko Oo, assistant of the director of Lashio’s Fire Service Department, told The Myanmar Times. Early estimates by the fire brigade reported K265 million in losses.
“Most houses were made of wood. We did not have much water and road access to the houses was difficult. It was also very windy as the town is located in the mountains, which made the fire worse,” said U Ko Ko Oo.
It took over 20 vehicles, which came from Thibaw/Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Lashio, Namtu, Manton and Mandalay, and 130 firefighters to control the fire.
“Water reservoirs that can hold about a million tonnes of water should be constructed at all sides of the city for future fire control,” said U Ko Ko Oo.
The Labutta fire has left 761 people homeless, according to the Myanmar Fire Brigade, which said a temporary shelter has been set up a pagoda in the town.
The local fire service department said the fire began due to old electrical wiring in a two-storey wood house. The fire broke out shortly after 8pm on February 4 and was put out by over 250 firefighters by 3am on February 5. The damage was estimated at K327 million.
Over K9.5 million worth of food and clothing has been distributed to the victims, state media reported yesterday.
Ko Myo Gyi, from local charity Pan Pyo Thu, said his organisation would also provide assistance to the fire victims.
Web Source: Myanmar Times
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/18851-two-fires-leave-hundreds-of-families-homeless.html