Six houses gutted by fire in Tahan

7 May 2016 – A fire broke out at about 3pm today in a Chin-populated block of Tahan, Kalay, Sagaing Region, destroying four family houses and two rice storage.

The blaze brought the wooden houses in Ward 5 to the ground and left nine families comprising 28 persons including children homeless.

“People said that the fire started from a kitchen in one of the houses. But this has got to be confirmed,” said Pu T. Tluang, a resident in the area.

He said, “All their belongings were burnt down. The weather was very hot and the blaze was very strong. They didn’t manage to get things out from their houses.”

Officials from the Kalay District General Administration Department came and gave 100,000 kyats to four house-owners and 60,000 kyats to tenant families, according to the Chin Human Rights Organization.

The CHRO reported that two out of the nine victim families do not have places for temporary accommodation while members of the other families are currently staying with relatives in the neighbourhood.

“We believe that the government officials will help them find a place to stay,” added Tluang.

No casualties are reported.#