An early-morning fire at a condominium in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi neighborhood resulted in the death of an elderly woman from asphyxia and the minor injuries of around twenty more.
Police received a complaint of the incident at approximately 12.35 am from Pol Col Siriphong Phengmanee, deputy investigation chief at Phaya Thai police station, at the 27-story condominium on Soi Phetchaburi 15, off Phetchaburi Road.
As flames spread to the condo’s 20th and 21st stories, more than 30 fire engines were sent to the area. For their own safety, several occupants fled, with some even running to the building’s rooftop. It took the firefighters thirty minutes or so to contain the fire.
Over twenty residents sought medical attention for suffocation. On the other hand, a woman, who appeared to be in her seventies, passed away and was sent to Rajavithi Hospital.
A police inquiry revealed that the 74-year-old fruit merchant Kitti, whose last name was concealed, was the owner of the room where the fire originated. He used the area for storage as well as using fruit-ripening gas to ripen mangoes. On the ninth storey of the parking structure, the seller slept on the bed of his pickup truck.
There was once a fire in Mr. Kitti’s room. At the time, a short circuit in the air conditioning compressor was the likely cause, according to police reports.
Phaya Thai police commander Pol Col Chayut Phongsak stated that forensic experts were assessing the site to assist law enforcement in determining the origin of the fire. They would summon the fruit vendor to question him.
