New Delhi (Mizzima) – Fire damaged 12 shops near Baho Market in Pathein (Bassein) on Sunday, causing damages estimated at about 12 million kyat (about US$ 15,200).
Pathein Fire Department officials said four gold shops, Zin Myo Aye, Pyacewa, Tharawun and Shwethamin, were razed by the fire. They are two-story buildings located near the corner of Merchant Road and Shwesaidan Road in downtown Pathein.
“Because of a power cut, [someone] started a small electric generator. The person filled up with petrol and then flicked on a lighter to check whether the generator was full of fuel or not. The fire started from that,” a fire official told Mizzima. The fire started at 7 p.m. and was extinguished about 10 p.m.
The Region Fire Department informed police and authorities charged one person with negligence regarding a fire.
West of the razed shops is the Yoma Bank, and at the south end are the Myawaddy Bank and the M.O.B Bank.
Buddhist monks and Muslims from a nearby mosque helped to extinguish the fire, according to a witness.
Earlier this year, a devastating fire broke out at Strand Road in Pathein Township at the beginning of the rainy season.
