SCMP reported that, according to Tivakorn Prongseng, a police inspector investigating the incident, the fire is believed to have started in the aquarium section of Srisomrat market, near Chatuchak, at around 4 a.m. (local time), and quickly spread to more than 100 shops in the pet goods section of Chatuchak market.
BBC and the Bangkok Post reported that many birds, cats, snakes and pythons were burned to death in their cages. Thai authorities said the fire broke out at 4:10 a.m., destroying all 118 stalls at Sri Somra Market - considered the pet section of Chatuchak Market.
More than 10 water trucks were deployed and it took firefighters about half an hour to extinguish the fire. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
There were no reports of human casualties, but Thai media reported that the fire killed thousands of animals, including puppies, fish, snakes, birds and rabbits, kept in cages and locked inside the shops.
With tens of thousands of shops crammed into narrow lanes, Chatuchak is one of the largest markets in Southeast Asia. It is also Thailand's largest and most popular weekend market, attracting nearly 200,000 tourists every Saturday and Sunday.
The Chatuchak pet section, open all week, occupies four of the 27 sections of Chatuchak Market and is the most controversial. It is regularly inspected and has been criticised for the poor living conditions of pets, leading to high rates of illness and death.
