PROBE INTO DEATHS OF 5 IN BLAZE
Fire broke out in a security guard room used to store old mattresses
AN investigation is being conducted into the deaths of five, including four firemen, in a fire at a three-storey building in Thawi Watthana district on Saturday.
The fire caused the structure to collapse, leaving the five dead and seven badly injured.
Reports in the Bangkok Post said the building was on a plot in the Krisdanakorn 31 housing estate in the Boromratchonnanee area in Thon Buri.
The building collapsed after fire raged through it for almost an hour.
Director of Thawi Watthana district, Phornlert Penpak, said checks were being carried out to determine if the building had violated municipal codes.
“All we know is that the building was 10 years old and used as an office.
“We need time to find out who or what is to blame for the accident,” Phornlert said after visiting the site.
Initial reports suggested that the fire broke out in a security guard room that had been used to store old mattresses and cleaning materials, according to information given to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
The first responders were firemen from the Bangkok Fire & Rescue Department under the BMA, and rescue volunteers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation.
The victims were identified as Thanaphob Prapai, 44, Samatcha Nilthong, 48, Attapol Thuamthong, 26, Suthat Plianklad, 38 and Kiat Patterson, 35.
All, except Kiat, were BMA firemen who died at the scene. Kiat was the owner of the property.
Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said no heavy machinery could be used to extract the bodies for fear the structure could collapse further, so rescue workers had been forced to use hand tools.
He said compensation would be paid to the families of the rescue workers killed.