The fire broke out in the cooperative’s warehouse in Phunphin district, Surat Thani at about 11pm on Friday. It then expanded to shops and a food centre. About 20 fire engines were mobilised and it took more than two hours to control the blaze initially.
The fire at the Cooperative erupted again from the debris at about 5am yesterday and firefighters took until managed 10.30am to finally put it out.
Sompong Duangsuwan, a guard volunteer at the cooperative, said he heard six explosions before seeing the fire spread quickly through the cooperative’s buildings. Cooking-gas cylinders in the food centre exploded when firefighters were trying to extinguish the blaze.
Thailand’s military government has ordered the fire to be thoroughly investigated to see whether there is any connection with the bombing on Koh Samui, which is also in Surat Thani province.
Army Maj Gen Kuakul Innajak said it was strange that the fire happened at about the same time as the car bomb at the Central Festival mall on Koh Samui off the Surat Thani mainland, and another fire at the Super Cheap convenience store in Kokkloi in Phang Nga.
He said the incidents might involve national security.
Pisant Mohpraman, manager of the cooperative, said the damage was estimated at about 50 million baht.
The Surat Thani Cooperative was founded by Suthep Thaugsuban, the leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee who is now in the monkhood. Phra Suthep is a Surat Thani native and the southern province has been his political stronghold.
He had led protests against the Yingluck Shinawatra government in 2013-14. He was a key member of the Democrat Party, the arch rival of the Pheu Thai Party led by Yingluck Shinawatra.
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