Superstore in Phuket, Thailand Goes Up in Flames

A massive fire ravaged a hypermarket-type store Wednesday night on Thailand’s southern resort island of Phuket, sending flames hundreds of feet into the air and forcing the evacuation of nearby residents.

No casualties were immediately reported from the blaze, with officials saying few if any shoppers were inside when it broke out.

Local district chief Weera Kerdsirimongkon said the fire started in a warehouse on the compound of the SuperCheap store at about 9:30 p.m. local time. The cause was not known.

SuperCheap is a cross between an American Costco-like store and a more traditional-type market, with space for other vendors.

Weera estimated the damage at billions of baht (millions of dollars).

Firefighters were still trying to control the flames after midnight, expressing concern it could spread to a nearby gas station.