Two houses were destroyed by fire in Kawtkhalein village,Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State, on the morning of April 26 while residents were attending a pagoda umbrella hoisting ceremony, according to local sources.
The fire broke out at around 10:30 a.m. in an unoccupied house, reportedly starting from a solar power connection. It quickly spread to a nearby house while most villagers were away at the ceremony held outside the village, a local man said.
“On that day, it was very hot and windy. The two houses were completely destroyed by the fire. It started from the solar system, and since most villagers were attending the pagoda ceremony, no one was at home. The area is sparsely populated, and we had to rely on local youths to put out the fire,” he said.
Residents said only one fire truck from a nearby village arrived during the incident. Fire engines from Dhamma That village were unable to respond due to road blockages between Kawtkhalein and Dhamma That areas.
The fire burned for about 30 minutes before it was brought under control with the help of local residents. Families from the two affected houses are currently staying temporarily with relatives.
“The fire only spread to haystacks and firewood storage areas and did not reach other houses. Due to restrictions in the area, fire trucks could not easily access the village. Otherwise, more assistance could have arrived,” another resident said.
Losses from the fire are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of kyat.
Earlier, on April 21, an explosion occurred at a fuel storage area inside a plywood factory in Mudon Township, according to local reports.
