Relief efforts for Phuket fire victims underway

PHUKET: Phuket is rallying as a community to provide relief for those who lost their homes to the blaze that ripped through a Patong slum late Sunday night.

A makeshift emergency relief center has been set up at Soi Baan Buntham, where the fire broke out, to receive donations and to distribute them to those in need.

Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha was at the center late yesterday evening to personally hand out 120 relief bags, containing food such as canned fish and rice, provided by the Governor’s Office.

In addition, the Kusoldham Rescue Foundation gave 1,000 baht to each of the victims, mostly Burmese workers.

Tents have been pitched throughout the area so those who lost their homes have a place to sleep.

An officer of from Patong Municipality’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Division told the Phuket Gazette that some people not affected by the fire have attempted to claim relief.

“Later the officers checked and found that those people were not affected by the fire, so now officers will examine carefully any person who claims his or her house was damaged by the fire,” he said.

The extent of the damage caused by the fire is still unknown, although the Patong DDPM has confirmed that there were no deaths and no people hospitalized because of the blaze.

Lt Col Sophon Borrirak of the Kathu Police said, “The investigation is still underway, so we do not know how much damage there is.

“About 10 buildings were destroyed by the fire. The buildings contained many homes divided by single walls and built with materials such as tin roofs. There were many people staying there.”

Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Patong Beach is calling for donations of clothing, bedding, food and cash.

The urgently required items can be left at Woody’s Sandwich Shoppes in Patong, Cherng Talay and at Fisherman’s Way in Chalong.

“The Rotary Club of Patong Beach will ensure that all donated items are delivered to those in need. Any excess items will be held in reserve for distribution to other needy people in our community,” the club told the Gazette this afternoon.

— By Atchaa Khamlo