BFF-28 Scores rescued from blaze in Myanmar’s Yangon

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ZCZC

BFF-28

MYANMAR-FIRE

Scores rescued from blaze in Myanmar’s Yangon

YANGON, Feb 20, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Scores of people were rescued from a
blazing building in Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon early Thursday, many
brought to safety with a cherry-picker crane from the highest floors.

Around 60 fire trucks raced to the 12-storey apartment block as smoke and
flames spread through the building.

No deaths had been reported by mid-morning and the cause of the blaze had
not been established.

Nyi Nyi, 34, told AFP he ran out of his home to warn his elderly neighbours
but was forced to retreat after nearly passing out.

“I couldn’t see anything as it was too dark with smoke,” he said, adding
firefighters arrived just in time.

The fire service rescued people with a cherry-picker as smoke billowed out
across the street, causing traffic to snarl up.

After years of under-investment, Yangon’s downtown buildings have
notoriously poor safety standards and fires are common.

BSS/AFP/MSY/1156 hrs