Thread: More than 1,000 animals killed as fire rips through famous Bangkok market

More than 1,000 exotic animals, reptiles and pets have perished in a sprawling market in Thailand's capital Bangkok after a fire ripped through over 100 shops, authorities say.
The blaze ravaged about 1,300 square metres of the Chatuchak Weekend Market, killing animals including snakes, spiders and Siamese fighting fish, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters.
Some 118 shops were burnt down and an initial inspection suggests that the fire was caused by an electrical fault, police Superintendent Phuwadon Ounpho said.
The fire is believed to have started in the ornamental fish zone in Srisomrat Market, adjacent to the bigger Chatuchak, at about 4am, local time, according to Tivakorn Prongseng, a police inspector investigating the case.
Firefighters and rescue workers on Tuesday picked through carcasses, mangled cages, blackened walls and collapsed metal shop roofs.
A medic treated a chicken near the smouldering ruins of one row of shops, according to a Reuters witness.
The fire was extinguished by 6am on Tuesday, Inspector Tivakorn said.


Read more https://www.xxx.xxx.xx/news/2024-06-12/animals-killed-as-fire-rips-through-bangkok-pet-market/103967154

Gosh, a fire caused by electrical failure in a Thai market! Whoudda thunk it.

Or as the Thais like to call it, "BBQ".

As if those poor creatures weren't treated badly enough already.

Magic of Thailand

Thailand on the front page again !
Thailand market fire kills more than 1,000 animals prompting calls for crackdown | Thailand | The Guardian

Originally Posted by Reg Dingle

As if those poor creatures weren't treated badly enough already.

Magic of Thailand

But at least they're aren't suffering any more.

^ Until the next load turns up and Covid 24 breaks loose.

Originally Posted by Reg Dingle

^ Until the next load turns up and Covid 24 breaks loose.

Do they eat bats there?

snakes, spiders and Siamese fighting fish,

Seem to remember they had a lot more animals than that - cats, dogs, rabbits etc..

^...bats

Animal lovers demand permanent closure of Chatuchak pet market

Thai animal lovers would have been better off not watching the news this past week. Those who did learned about a pregnant Siberian Husky named Muay-Lek being brutally abused by her owner.


Though she has now found a new, loving home, the image of her being scalded with hot water while tied up in a bathroom, remains fresh in everyone’s minds.


Another blow occurred on Tuesday morning, when Thailand woke up to shocking news: Thailand’s biggest pet market at Chatuchak in Bangkok was on fire.


Fire broke out at the Pet Zone of Chatuchak market around 4 am and raged for over 30 minutes. This was long enough to gut over 100 shops and claim the lives of roughly 1,000 animals – dogs, cats, birds, pythons, even rats.


The blaze left no escape for these creatures. Many were burned alive, while others succumbed to the suffocating smoke.


Those familiar with Chatuchak’s cramped pet zone need not watch any news to imagine such a horror.

The news is heartbreaking, confirming the long-held concerns of pet lovers and animal advocates.


Even on a normal day, the conditions here have raised red flags for most animal lovers. Imagine a sun-loving iguana crammed into a tiny cage, far from the open spaces and basking areas it craves.


In fact, all the animals are crammed into tiny cages, far from their natural habitats, enduring questionable hygiene and unbearable heat.



The inferno that gutted the animals at the market underlines one big problem: the complete lack of safety standards. Unlike the weekend market section, this portion of pet market is open every day.


Animals kept there face a daily struggle for survival. There have been no reported safety measures, let alone features like natural water sources or trees that could provide some semblance of a proper habitat.


This tragedy exposes a critical question: Is it not now time for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the market’s landlord, to close this controversial market permanently? The market clearly does not operate in the best interests of genuine animal lovers or the animals themselves.


Responsible pet markets can exist, but they must prioritize safety and ethical treatment.


The current market thrives on impulse purchases driven by trends, leading to overcrowding, carelessness, and ultimately, animal suffering.

Many people acquire pets based on fleeting trends, not genuine love and commitment.


This lack of commitment is a major reason behind the rise in pet abandonment. Just 3 weeks ago, a Golden Retriever in Chiang Mai made headlines after its owner cruelly dumped it from a pick-up truck.


Pets are not toys; without lasting love and care, pets will soon be abandoned. The Chatuchak pet market, where animals are sold based on trends and cater to fashionable owners, perpetuates this cycle of neglect and should be shut down.


For decades, the BMA has turned a blind eye to the deplorable conditions at the Chatuchak pet market.


This lack of regulations has persisted, allowing the market to prioritize profit over animal welfare. Standards are urgently needed to safeguard not only domesticated pets but also the welfare of wild animals sold as exotic “curiosities”.


Responsible pet ownership requires commitment and understanding. This is why phrases like “Cat Slave” (Taas Maew) are so popular in Thailand.


They understand that animals are not commodities, and most opt for reputable breeders or adoption rather than impulse purchases at a market like Chatuchak.


The outpouring of grief on social media following the fire at Chatuchak is a powerful testament to the deep love Thais have for their animal companions.


Closing this market is a crucial first step towards ensuring the welfare of animals in Thailand. This, however, should not be the end of the matter.


The Thai government must implement stricter regulations for pet ownership and breeding practices.


A licensing and control system can elevate the standards of pet markets across the country, ensuring responsible practices and preventing future tragedies like the one at Chatuchak.

Animal lovers demand permanent closure of Chatuchak pet market - Thai PBS World

BMA to tighten up controls on pet shops following fire at Chatuchak

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is to tighten up rules on the trading of animals at Chatuchak market’s pet zone, by requiring traders to apply for licenses from both the BMA and the Livestock Development Department. This follows a devastating fire in the pet zone early Tuesday morning, which caused the deaths of an estimated 5,000 animals.


Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt admitted that it cannot yet be ascertained how many animals of how many species died in the fire, because there were many pet shops operating without licenses.


According to the BMA, there are also about another 200 pet shops scattered across Bangkok which do not have the appropriate operating licenses. They have been told to apply for licences from the BMA by July 18th.


He also said, however, that the BMA will provide 11,400 baht in compensation to each properly registered trader affected by the blaze.

He indicated that it will be some time before the pet zone reopens, noting that all the traders will now have to hold two licenses, one from the BMA and the other from the Livestock Development Department.

Meanwhile, Roger Lohanan, secretary-general of the Thai Animals Protection Association, and a network of animal welfare protection groups, submitted a 3-point proposal to the BMA, calling for a fact-finding probe into the fire by a neutral body, as well as the standardisation of the pet market, with the emphasis on animal safety, fire prevention systems and strict enforcement of the law and regulations regarding the trade in animals.


Layin Petcharat, of the SOS Animal Thailand Foundation, an animal rights protection group, said that her organisation has been proposing that all pet shops should be equipped with fire prevention systems since the enforcement of the animal welfare law in 2021, but this has been rejected on the grounds that the traders are all animal lovers and can deal with safety problems themselves.

She also noted that the exhibition of pets and exotic animals in shopping malls is organised without regard to their safety, including being left overnight without proper care.

BMA to tighten up controls on pet shops following fire at Chatuchak - Thai PBS World

Originally Posted by misskit

BMA to tighten up controls on pet shops following fire at Chatuchak

Missing the words "for about a week".