Bangkok, 17.10.2013 – A major fire broke out late Wednesday at the Phuket SuperCheap store, sending flames and smoke climbing into the sky over the resort, and trapping shoppers and staff in the deadly confusion.

According to the Phuket News, the blaze began around 9.40 pm, when hundreds of shoppers and an estimated 1,000 staff were inside.

Authorities are so far tight-lipped about the number of victims. AT/Reinhard Hohler