Firefighters at the scene of the fire in the capital's Khlong Toey district (Picture: Khaosod English)
That's the the sad headline in a news item on the Khaosod (Express News) website following a fire that's devastated the area around Mercy Centre in Bangkok. The article goes on:
At least 30 families in an impoverished quarter of Bangkok have been living in tents after their homes were destroyed in a blaze. Police say the fire ravaged a 286-household slum next to Wat Saphan Canal in the capital’s Khlong Toey district at about 9:30pm on Friday 28 January. The cause and source of the fire are still under investigation. Firefighters spent about an hour before the fire was brought under control. According to the Manager Online news service, local volunteers responded to the fire shortly after it started, but could not contain the flames because two fire extinguishers provided to the community did not work. "No one died in the incident", said Acharawadee Chaisuriwat, Khlong Toey district chief.
Father Joe Maier describes what has happened, and how they are dealing with the fire, here: www.mercycentre.org You can help with Mercy Centre Bangkok’s efforts to bring back some normality to the lives of the Klong Toey families by clicking here or on our “Donate Today” link at the top of this page.