The tranquillity of a typical Bangkok night was disrupted in the early hours of Saturday when a fire erupted on the 20th and 21st floors of a towering 27-storey condominium located in the city’s Ratchathewi district. Tragically, an elderly woman lost her life due to suffocation in the incident that also left more than 20 others with minor injuries. This unfortunate event, reported to the police around 12:35 a.m. by Phaya Thai police station’s deputy investigation chief, Pol Col Siriphong Phengmanee, threw the city into an inevitable state of chaos and worry.
A swift response from the fire department saw about 30 fire trucks racing to the scene, their sirens cutting through the quiet night. It was a battle against time as they worked to quell the raging flames that had seized control of two floors of the condominium located on Soi Phetchaburi 15 off Phetchaburi Road. The heroic firefighters managed to get the fire under control in about half an hour, showcasing their deftness and mastery in dealing with such high-risk situations.
However, amidst this chaos, the residents of the condominium, shell-shocked and scared, did what they could to escape the imminent danger. Some scampered up to the rooftop of the building, while others chose to evacuate for their safety. Unfortunately, more than 20 residents ended up suffering from suffocation due to the thick smoke that filled the air. But sadly, an unnamed elderly woman of approximately 70 years of age couldn’t make it and was declared dead while being rushed to Rajavithi Hospital.
Rumors swirled around the source of the fire, but after thorough investigations, the police identified the fire’s origin to a room owned by Mr Kitti, a 74-year-old fruit vendor. Surprisingly, he used his room as storage and a ripening area for mangoes using a fruit-ripening gas. Throughout the chaotic night, Mr Kitti chose to sleep undisturbed on the bed of his pickup truck parked on the eighth floor of the car park building. What’s more intriguing is that Mr. Kitti’s room had previous experience of a fire incident which was linked back to a faulty air conditioning compressor.
The case now lies in the hands of Pol Col Chayut Phongsak, the chief of Phaya Thai police and his forensic team who are currently examining the scene to establish the primary cause of the fire. As investigations continue, Mr. Kitti, the fruit vendor, will be interrogated to understand better the circumstances leading up to the unfortunate event.
The tragic incident of that fiery night in Bangkok is a grim reminder of the crucial need for proper safety measures and proactive steps to prevent such fire outbreaks, especially in high-rise buildings. It indeed serves as an eye-opener for everyone to be more cautious and always prepared for such unforeseen events.
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