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Early Tuesday morning, a devastating fire broke out at Bangkok's famous Chatuchak market, tragically killing around 1,000 animals and destroying nearly 100 shops. The blaze, caused by an electrical short circuit, erupted in the pet zone of the sprawling market, reducing cages of birds, dogs, cats, snakes, and other animals to ashes. Despite the extensive damage, authorities reported no human casualties or injuries.
The pet zone, known for its controversial trade practices, was hardest hit. This area, comprising about four out of the 27 sections of Chatuchak market, has long been criticized for poor living conditions leading to high rates of disease and death among the animals. Regular inspections have done little to improve the situation, which was tragically highlighted by this recent disaster.
Amporn Wannasut, a shop owner who sold turtles, pythons, and king snakes, rushed to the scene upon hearing about the fire. "When I got here, everything was gone, all burned down," she lamented. "I couldn’t help them at all. They were all gone." The 42-year-old, like many other shop owners, now faces the daunting task of starting over. "I don’t even know what to do next," she added. "I froze some of the dead snakes so that we can calculate how much [money] we lost."
The fire damaged most of the 118 shops in the pet zone, covering an area of about 1,400 square meters (15,000 square feet). When reporters arrived at the market on Tuesday afternoon, they found shop owners lining up to register for compensation. Many were visibly distraught, with several seen crying over their losses. In stark contrast, some onlookers were taking selfies in front of the charred ruins, prompting police to warn them about the danger of collapsing structures.
One shop owner, known as Meecha, recounted her narrow escape to the online news outlet Thaiger. Awakened by the cries of the animals in the loft above her shop, she was forced to climb through a window to safety as thick smoke filled the air. The blaze, which started around 04:10 local time, was extinguished within 30 minutes, but not before causing extensive damage.
The fire has reignited calls for the permanent closure of the pet zone. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) emphasized the urgent need for action, with senior vice-president Jason Baker stating, "Animals are not ours to use for our entertainment... PETA urges the Thai government to ensure that this facility, where captive animals suffer, never reopens."
The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand echoed this sentiment, describing Chatuchak market as a "shame on Bangkok." Director Edwin Wiek condemned the illegal smuggling and poor treatment of animals, calling for immediate government intervention to end the cruelty.
As one of Southeast Asia's largest markets, Chatuchak draws nearly 200,000 tourists every weekend. However, this tragedy has cast a dark shadow over its reputation, highlighting the urgent need for reforms to protect the welfare of animals and ensure such a disaster never happens again. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration faces mounting pressure to take decisive action and prevent further cruelty and loss of life.
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