Huaphan appeals for help after 22 houses gutted by fire

Thirty families in Sonkhuaneua village, Huameuang district, Huaphan province are in need of household equipment, clothes, rice, and construction materials after they lost their homes in a fire on Tuesday.
Head of the district Public Security Office, Lieutenant Colonel Phengsy Malatsomvang, told Vientiane Times that 30 families of 152 people are now homeless and have lost all of their appliances, utensils and many other belongings. 
The fire is believed to have been due to an electrical fault, with the resulting damage estimated at almost 2 billion kip.
The buildings that burned down were mostly made of wood. Sonkhuaneua village has 200 houses but 22 were destroyed in the blaze and eight others suffered serious damage. 

Lieutenant Colonel Phengsy said “Authorities have provided 600,000 kip in cash to each family as well as some essential equipment. But people here need more rice, clothing, construction equipment, and other essentials.”
The homeless families are now living in the village hall, the school, a temporary camp or with relatives. Authorities are seeking funding to buy construction materials so that people can build new houses or repair damaged ones.
Sonkhuaneua village is located about 48km from the main town in Huameuang district and is mostly inhabited by ethnic Khmu.
Anyone who can help or provide assistance, equipment for use in reconstruction, or any other items, is invited to call Lieutenant Colonel Phengsy on 020 55556089.
Elsewhere, a fire destroyed over 20 stalls at Pakxan market in Pakxan district, Borikhamxay province, on Wednesday morning. The stalls were mostly stocked with clothing and other goods. 
Police and fire-fighters worked for about two hours to completely extinguish the blaze.
Local police and authorities have been investigating the incident and are assessing the extent of the damage.
Authorities are warning people to exercise caution when lighting fires, as well as highlighting the dangers posed by household electrical faults, according to the Fire Prevention and Protection Police Department.
Officials stress that a fire could occur at any time as a result of faulty wiring, overloaded electrical circuits, lighted candles, failure to check electrical appliances before leaving home, burning garbage, or children lighting fires at home.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update October 25, 2019)