Two teakwood buildings in downtown Chiang Mai's Khum Khan Tok complex were burnt to the ground yesterday morning.
Damages to the Khum Luang theatre hall and the Hor Khum Kham building nearby, both reportedly containing teak antiques, were initially estimated at about Bt1 billion.
It took three hours and 30 fire engines to put out the blaze, which was reported at 3.20am yesterday. Initial investigation showed that the fire had started in the theatre's lightcontrol room, possibly from a short circuit, before it spread through the entire theatre and went on to set the neighbouring building alight. The complex was closed with security guards patrolling the premises.
Khum Khan Tok manager, Somkiat Ngampanich, said the complex was divided into four sections, two of which were burned down. The rest of the vicinity, consisting of the Khum Kham plaza and the Khoung Khonmuang area where the Plab Pla restaurant is located, is still open.
Somkiat said the Khum Luang theatre, where 800 to 900 guests dined on northern delicacies and watched traditional shows daily, would need up to six months to rebuild.
The complex's owner Watchara Tantranont said the two buildings contained many invaluable Lanna antiques collected over the past 60 years, and the damage to the buildings alone was worth Bt1 billion.
Police investigators confirmed that the estimate of Bt1 billion was correct because the teak roofing tiles alone were worth Bt100 million.
The insurance company is currently assessing the fire damage.
