Blaze Damages Over 300 Impounded Cars at Mae Sot Customs Warehouse
A fire that broke out on Tuesday night at a customs warehouse in Mae Sot, Tak province, caused extensive damage to over 300 cars. The fire began around 7 p.m. and quickly spread to more than 300 of the 1,000 vehicles stored at the facility. These vehicles, which were tightly packed in an outdoor parking lot behind the customs office, were primarily imported from Japan for re-export to Myanmar.
Due to the ongoing conflict between government and rebel forces in Myanmar, the cars had been stored in the bonded warehouse for several years. Efforts to auction the vehicles had failed as no buyers were found due to the high prices being asked.
The fire, which included several explosions, was eventually controlled after about two hours by fire trucks from several municipalities and the Ratchamanu Task Force. A team of forensic officers from Tak province is now investigating the cause of the blaze.
