THE STAR/LAOTIAN TIMES – A teenager set fire to houses in Laos on Thursday while intoxicated, damaging 28 homes and causing several families to lose their homes.
Public Security Magazine reported that the 18-year-old was arrested and tested for amphetamine use after setting the fire.
Videos of distraught residents escaping the flames and attempting to extinguish fires have gone viral on social media.
A total of 28 houses were affected by the fire, with 17 reportedly completely destroyed.
According to information published by Phathoumphone Press Office on its Facebook page, the fire spread rapidly because many of the houses were traditional Lao homes made with flammable materials, particularly timber. Some homeowners were able to retrieve household items and valuables from the fire, while others lost everything.
Emergency services had to travel more than 70 kilometres to reach the site of the fire. No deaths or injuries were reported at the scene and police are continuing investigations into the total damage.
