YANGON: Two people suffered burn injuries in Myawady after a fire broke out while they were extracting petrol from a car amid the ongoing fuel shortage in the town, according to the Z-RESCUE emergency social assistance team.
The incident occurred as fuel shortages—linked to regional tensions in the Middle East and affecting several cities—have also hit Myawady. While some fuel stations in the town have temporarily closed, others remain open but face long queues of buyers.
Due to the shortage, a growing informal market has emerged in which drivers travel to Mae Sot, Thailand, to fill up their vehicles and then return to Myawady to resell the fuel.
As a result, heavy traffic congestion was reported at the No.1 Friendship Bridge on March 6, as many vehicles attempted to cross into Mae Sot to refuel.
According to a Z-RESCUE official, the two burn incidents happened on separate days while petrol was being siphoned for resale—one on March 8 and another on March 9.
Both injured individuals were transferred from Myawady People’s Hospital to a hospital in Mae Sot for treatment.
“There are groups that go to Mae Sot to buy fuel and then extract and sell it. Fires like this are extremely dangerous and very worrying,” the official said.
“Although there has not been a major fire in residential areas, people have already been injured. It’s a serious concern—almost a red-level warning. Nothing is more important than human life, so everyone should be careful.” - Eleven Media/ANN
