Khammuan provincial police are trying to determine the cause of a fire involving two fuel tankers on Tuesday at a petrol station in Phonsoung village, Thakhaek district, Khammuan province.
Head Office of the Public Security Command in Khammuan, Lieutenant Colonel Sithandone Chounlamany, told Vientiane Times yesterday the fire occurred at 1:00 pm on Tuesday when the tankers parked at the petrol station suddenly went up in flames. Fortunately, the petrol station did not catch on fire and no one has been injured or killed.
Police fire-fighters were called to the scene and were able to put out the fire before it could spread further.
They deployed five trucks to control the blaze with fire-fighters requiring two hours to extinguish the flames completely. Police and other authorities are currently investigating the scene and are in the process of assessing the cost of damages.
On the same day, a bus burned down in Phonsavang-Tai village, Kaysone Phomvihane district, Savannakhet province. One person sustained injuries.
Head of Savannakhet Volunteers Rescue, Mr Bouddy Boupphalasy, said a bus with 38 passengers was travelling from Pakxe district, Champassak province to Vientiane when it suddenly caught fire in Phonsavang-Tai village, Kaysone Phomvihane district.
Police fire-fighters and the Savannakhet Rescue Team were called to the scene. Officers were able to put out the fire in three hours time.
One bus attendant sustained a broken leg. The driver and passengers all escaped safely.
According to the initial report, the driver said the bus came into contact with electric cables along the road, which sparked the fire. However, police are currently investigating the scene and are in the process of assessing the total cost of damages.
According to the Fire Prevention and Protection Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security, 112 fires occurred around the country from January until June this year, causing over 100 billion kip in damages.
Some 132 houses, 30 hectares of grasslands, two markets and one mill, among others were destroyed by fires. Five cars were also among the many items damaged or destroyed.
Officials said 37 of the fires were caused by electrical shorts, another seven by arson, 15 through carelessness or forgetfulness and the rest of the cases are still pending investigation.
Most of the fires occurred in Vientiane, but there was also a large fire outbreak at Dao Heuang market in Pakxe district, Champassak province. The fire gutted the market at an estimated cost of 58 billion kip.
Source: Vientiane Times
