Large fire devastates Thai market in downtown Korat

Fire burn in multiple structures including a market and multi-story buildings last night in Korat. Photo: Korat Forum Skyscrapercity / Facebook

By Coconuts Bangkok

Dec 2, 2019 | 1:09pm Bangkok time

Fire ravaged a large fresh market in the northeastern city of Korat last night, causing about THB50 million (US$1.7 million) in damage.

About 30 fire trucks were dispatched just past 8pm to the Mae Kim Heng Market, just outside the western moat, after the fire broke out. It took fire fighters just over two hours to tame the flames officials believe were sparked by a power transformer explosion in the front of the market.

That triggered the market blaze which also damaged a nearby florist and pair of two-story buildings, according to Thai PBS. More that 30 stores are believed to have been damaged or destroyed.

While fire personnel were battling the flames, portions of the market’s roof collapsed, sending numerous, thundering, explosion-like noises across the district.

Today, police were investigating the scene in order to conclude the cause of the fire as well as the total damage caused.