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Huge fire in construction camp kills 1 in Bangkok

Xinhua, July 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

A huge fire that razed a 8,000-square-meter dormitory housing over 1,000 Thai and migrant workers killed a Thai worker in north Bangkok Wednesday night.

The fire broke out at about 10 p.m. local time. The flame fanned by the strong wind, raged for almost two hours, burning more than 450 rooms in the two-storey building, five cars and pickup trucks.

A charred body was later found in the wreckage. The dead worker was identified as Phanomphorn Jan-aksorn, 20, from the northeast Loei province.

At least 10 firetrucks were sent to fight the blaze. As the populated densely huts were packed too closely, vehicles of emergency crews were unable to enter the camp but only showered water outside around the area.

Some workers said most families were staying in the camp at that time when they heard a loud explosion. Then they saw the blaze. They fled and tried to save what they could.

Homeless workers were said to be arranged to temporary shelters, including nearby temples.

Police said the cause of the fire was still under investigation. Endit