Hearth kills tons of of caged animals, together with puppies and birds, at well-known market in Thailand

A whole lot of caged animals died Tuesday after a hearth struck Chatuchak Weekend Market, probably the most well-known markets in Thailand’s capital.

The hearth was reported early within the morning and shortly swept throughout greater than 100 retailers out there’s pet part, in line with the Bangkok authorities. Authorities mentioned the blaze was began by {an electrical} brief circuit, the BBC reported.

Officers mentioned it took them about an hour to convey the fireplace beneath management. There aren’t any reviews of human casualties, however Thai media reviews advised that the fireplace killed a number of hundred animals, together with puppies, fish, snakes, birds and rabbits, stored in cages and locked contained in the retailers.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who visited the scene after the fireplace was put out, mentioned individuals might assist affected store house owners by providing to accommodate surviving animals. Officers could possibly be seen on the website within the morning, inspecting the charred retailers or breaking metallic gates to convey out animals that survived the fireplace.

Officers mentioned they’re nonetheless engaged on estimating the price of injury, and that affected store house owners might register for compensation.

The sprawling weekend market is a significant vacationer draw, bringing in consumers from all around the world to browse its tons of of retailers and stalls for gadgets starting from food and drinks to clothes, furnishings, crops, books and pets. It claims to attract practically 200,000 vacationers each Saturday and Sunday, the BBC reported.

Wildlife organizations have typically accused some distributors of involvement within the trafficking of uncommon and endangered species, reminiscent of turtles, tortoises, birds and even unique cats. In 2013, police discovered 14 white lions imported from Africa and tons of of different protected animals in a warehouse close to Bangkok and arrested a person who owned an unique pet store at Chatuchak Weekend Market.

The BBC reported that the Individuals for the Moral Therapy of Animals (PETA) mentioned the fireplace “underscores the pressing want for motion.”

“Animals usually are not ours to make use of for our leisure… PETA urges the Thai authorities to make sure that this facility, the place captive animals endure, by no means reopens,” mentioned the group’s senior vice-president Jason Baker.

The Wildlife Associates Basis in Thailand described the market as a “disgrace on Bangkok,” the BBC reported.

“Many of those poor animals are smuggled into the nation, typically illegally. It’s immoral, merciless, a well being and security hazard, and utterly pointless,” the muse’s director Edwin Wiek mentioned.

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.