Lightning Strike Sparks Market Fire in Samut Sakhon, 50 Stalls Lost
A lightning strike caused a major fire at the Pho Thong flea market in Samut Sakhon, destroying nearly 50 stalls selling clothing, shoes, and electronics. The blaze broke out before the market opened, so there were no casualties. Firefighters took over 30 minutes to control the flames and an additional hour to prevent re-ignition, with damage estimates still underway.
A lightning strike hit the Pho Thong flea market in Moo 6, Kok Krabue Subdistrict, Mueang District, Samut Sakhon Province around 11:00 a.m. on November 4, igniting a blaze that damaged nearly 50 stalls selling clothing, footwear, and electrical appliances. The market had not yet opened for business, so only a few vendors were present at the front, and there were no injuries or deaths. More than 20 fire trucks from the Kok Krabue Subdistrict Municipality and surrounding areas took over half an hour to control the flames, followed by an hour of water spraying to prevent re-ignition due to heavy smoke in the enclosed market area.
Nearly 50 stalls were affected, mostly selling second-hand goods, clothing, apparel, shoes, and small electrical appliances. Virapan Chan-ngoen, a 42-year-old vendor, said it was raining when a loud thunderclap struck the market, and fire quickly spread through the zone housing clothing, electrical, and plastic goods, where nearly 50 stalls are clustered. He rushed to cut the main power breaker and alerted the market manager before coordinating with firefighters.
The Pho Thong flea market has operated for nearly 20 years, opening daily from around 2:00 p.m. This incident has caused widespread damage to the market's vendors, and the total value of losses is still under assessment.
