Pet shops near Bangkok's famous Chatuchak market were devastated by a fire early Tuesday morning, killing animals and damaging more than 100 stalls, police said.

According to police inspector Tivakorn Prongseng, who is investigating the case, the fire is believed to have started in the aquarium fish section of the Srisomrat market near Chatucak at around 4.00 am (9.00 pm Greenwich Mean Time)

.

The flames spread to more than 100 stalls spread over an area of about 1,300 square metres, he told AFP news agency.
No casualties were reported in the fire, but dozens of dead pets were found in cages in a market owned by Thailand's state-owned railways after the blaze, the inspector said.

The fire had been put out by 6.00 p.m. and its causes were being investigated, Tivakorn P added. Local media report that hundreds of pets were killed in the fire, but Tivakorn P said it was not yet known exactly how many had perished. The Bangkok city administration is interviewing shopkeepers at the scene who were affected by the fire.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt also visited the scene and said that residents could help the affected shopkeepers by offering to take in surviving pets.

Parts of the nearby dry-walled Chhatuchak market, which sells everything from antiques and electronics to crockery and food, have been affected by fire in the past.

This market is a major tourist attraction, but it is also a popular shopping destination for locals. Environmental activist groups have previously raised concerns about the live animal trade in this market, and the shops are regularly searched, sometimes finding endangered species.