Fire blazed in a pet market in Bangkok, Thailand, and thousands of animals locked in cages perished in various stalls early in the morning. The Sri Somrat market, the area of the Chatuchak Weekend Market especially for animals, was one of the favorite shopping destinations of tourists and locals alike.
According to Bangkok Post, the fire began at 4:10 AM and spread to almost 1,400 sqm. around the area. 118 pet shops were affected, which were housing cats, dogs, monkeys, birds, fish, rabbits, snakes, and chickens, among others. Passersby reported hearing the animals calling out in distress. However, no people perished or were injured at the scene.
When first responders arrived, the firefighters took about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze. A video posted on YouTube showed firefighters hosing down the fire and retrieving burned cages from the stalls. In them were the remains of the animals that perished in the fire. In an interview with Thai media, a vendor claimed that the fire originated from the dogs’ shop, where the owners usually leave the electric fans turned on overnight to cool down the animals due to the heatwave.
Vendors were left devastated and said they lost a large number of exotic animals that cost 5 to 6 digits of baht each. They believed that hundreds of animals perished in the blaze that quickly expanded throughout the market area. The district office is assessing the damages done around the areas of the market and has spoken to individual vendors to provide them assistance. Customers were also requested to help the retailers by purchasing the animals from them for financial assistance.
Incidentally, not all was lost in the fire at the Sri Somrat market. Among all the animals that (unfortunately) perished during the early morning blaze, only a pregnant cat survived. She miraculously emerged from the remains of the destroyed stalls bruised and burnt. A video posted on social media showed the pregnant cat crouching on the roof of the burnt market amid its charred remains.
More than 1 life has been saved that day. After undergoing an x-ray and ultrasound at the vet clinic, it was discovered that the cat was in her first month of pregnancy, and she was carrying at least 3 kittens. Additionally, the mother cat had blistered paws, a burnt hind leg, and pneumonia due to inhaling smoke. Fortunately, the doctor said she would make a full recovery and would move on from the unforgettable incident.
Screenshot images from YouTube credits: © Ejan and Clouseau Puttiporn for MothershipSG
