Brian McDonald
Hundreds of caged animals died on Tuesday after a fire ripped through the Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the most famous markets in Thailand’s capital.
The fire was reported early in the morning and quickly engulfed more than 100 stores in the pet section of the market, according to the Bangkok government. Authorities said the fire was started by an electrical short circuit, the BBC reported.
Officials said it took them about an hour to bring the fire under control. There are no reports of human casualties, but Thai media reports suggested the fire killed several hundred animals, including puppies, fish, snakes, birds and rabbits, kept in cages and locked inside the shops.
CHANAKARN LAOSARAKHAM/AFP via Getty Images
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who visited the site after the fire was put out, said people could help affected shopkeepers by offering to shelter surviving animals. Authorities could be seen at the scene in the morning, inspecting charred stores or breaking down metal gates to remove animals that survived the fire.
Authorities said they are still working to estimate the cost of the damage and that affected store owners can register for compensation.
The sprawling weekend market is a major tourist attraction, attracting shoppers from around the world to visit its hundreds of shops and stalls in search of items ranging from food and drink to clothing, furniture, plants, books and pets. It claims to attract almost 200,000 tourists every Saturday and Sunday, the BBC reported.
Andy Soloman/UCG/Grupo Universal Images via Getty Images
Wildlife organizations have frequently accused some sellers of involvement in the trafficking of rare and endangered species, such as turtles, tortoises, birds and even exotic cats. In 2013, police found 14 white lions imported from Africa and hundreds of other animals protected in a warehouse near Bangkok and arrested a man who owned an exotic pet store in the Chatuchak Weekend Market.
The BBC reported that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said the fire “highlights the urgent need for action”.
“Animals are not ours to use in our entertainment… PETA urges the Thai government to ensure that this facility, where captive animals suffer, never reopens,” said the group’s senior vice president, Jason Baker.
The Wildlife Friends Foundation in Thailand described the market as a “disgrace to Bangkok,” the BBC reported.
“Many of these poor animals are smuggled into the country, often illegally. It is immoral, cruel, a health and safety hazard and completely unnecessary,” said foundation director Edwin Wiek.
Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.
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