Port Fire in Myanmar Kills 2

MYANMAR – A port fire in Myanmar late Monday left 2 people dead and 11 others injured, after a fire broke out at a river port in the country’s Sagaing region, according to authorities on Tuesday.

The blaze erupted around evening on Monday at a port near a monastery in the Homalin township, quickly spreading across vessels and nearby vehicles, according to local outlet Mizzima.

Witnesses said at least 22 motorized boats and two vehicles were destroyed as flames engulfed the area.

Authorities and emergency responders rushed to the scene, deploying multiple fire engines along with local firefighting units.

However, residents reported that the fire continued burning into the following morning.

Preliminary accounts suggest the fire may have been triggered while fuel was being loaded, with large quantities of fuel stored on the boats intensifying the blaze and causing explosions.