Two people and 73 pet cats were killed in a fire that engulfed a three-storey townhouse in the Samre area of Bangkok on Saturday, while firefighters rescued an infant and a bedridden elderly woman from the blaze.
Firefighters, rescue workers and police responded to the fire on Saturday morning at a townhouse in Soi Taksin 11 in Thon Buri district.
When they arrived, flames had engulfed the ground floor and were spreading to the second floor.
The blaze was brought under control in about 10 minutes.
During the operation, rescuers safely evacuated a two-month-old baby and a bedridden elderly woman who had been trapped inside the house.
The bodies of a 65-year-old man and his 55-year-old wife were found on the second floor. They were believed to have died from smoke inhalation, according to Samre police.
Their bodies were sent for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
The family kept nearly 100 cats. People commented on the news online that the couple had helped many stray cats and gave them a home for a long time, and that the incident was a devastating blow.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said during a Facebook live broadcast while inspecting the scene, citing Thon Buri district director Dechathorn Saeng-amnat, that 73 cats had died and 19 survived.
Two of the surviving cats were being treated for smoke inhalation at a hospital while 17 were sent to a shelter in Prawet district.
Mr Chadchart offered his condolences to the family and said anyone interested in adopting the surviving cats could contact the Prawet shelter: Tel 02-328-7460 or Facebook BKK Adopter.
The cause of the fire is believed to have been an electrical short circuit. Authorities will coordinate with the relevant agencies to provide assistance to those affected.
