Some 30 fire engines could only prevent the blaze from further spreading and waited three hours for the fire to consume itself.

The blaze also spread to a building of Metropolitan Electricity Office near the community and destroyed some 20 official vehicles there.

Police have to close traffic at Asoke Intersection and Ratchada-Rama IV road. Community radios suggested commuters to stay away from the roads near the blaze site.

The fire fighters faced shortage of water, so they had to ask for helps from nearby districts. Strong wind had obstructed the attempts to put the fire.

Dwellers of the community ran out for their life and grabbed with them what they could.

So far, there was no casualty report.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Wallop Suwandee rushed to the scene. He said over 100 houses on two-rai area were destroyed but the Klong Toey district officials had yet to survey the number of affected people.

The district officials put up tents for the homeless people to live and handed out foods and drinks to them.

Initially, police said the fire started from a furniture shop inside the community but Wallop said he leant that the blaze began at a temporary shelter of construction workers at mouth of the soi.

Tueng Boondaeng, 39, recounted that he notice the blaze at the back of the community so he alerted his wife. He said he could take out his motorcycle while his wife carried with her a TV set. The couple lost other belongings in the blaze.

Samphan Chaobuayai, 53, said he could only grabbed his household registration and a record book of his room renting business while fleeing.

Nuanchan Penmadee, 48, said she was frightened and ran for her life without taking anything with her. All of her belongings were gone in the fire.

The Nation