PHANG NGA, Feb 4 (TNA) — Fire leveled 65 houses of Moken people on the Surin islands in the Ao Bon bay in Phang nga province on Feb 3 and no casualties were reported.
Local officials were informed of the fierce fire in the Moken village that stands in the Mu Ko Surin National Park in Ko Phra Thong sub-district of Khura Buri district. The village is about 70 kilometers from the center of the district. Park rangers and naval officers rushed to the scene.
There officials saw the raging fire on wooden houses built in the sea. Strong winds spread the blaze over about 60 houses while firefighters were trying to control it.
A tour guide of Green View Tour Co said a Moken man tried to start the engine of a boat that he was repairing under his house and suddenly there was an explosion. The house caught fire which then expanded fast to other residences in strong winds. About 300 Moken residents including about 100 children fled their houses in fright.
Putthipong Kuprasit, chief of the national park, said it took over an hour to control the blaze, 65 houses were burnt and 15 others were intact.
Elderly people, women and children were brought to take refuge in the Ao Chong Khad bay and necessities were set to reach the affected people on Feb 4. (TNA)
