Fire Guts 15 Houses in Bangkok's Makkasan Community, One Dead

A FIRE that broke out in the middle of the night at Makkasan community in Sukhumvit Soi 3 destroyed 15 houses with one person having died in the blaze, PPTVHD36 and Naewna newspaper said this morning (Sept. 1). At 2.35 a.m. Pol. Lt. Col. Wallop Isariyasakunwong, an investigating officer at Phaya Thai police station, received a report of a fire at a residential area in Sukhumvit 3 near the Mitsamphan intersection, and rushed to the scene with firefighters from Phaya Thai, Dusit, Phaholyothin, Bang Kapi, Sutthisan, Huai Khwang, Phu Khao Thong, and Suan Mali stations, who brought more than 10 fire trucks with them. Also arriving there were emergency medical personnel from Erawan Centre and rescuers from Poh Teck Tung Foundation. After the fire broke out at this a cluster of wooden houses built close together along Saen Saep canal fearful residents fled for their lives, taking elderly people and bedridden patients along with them Amidst the intermittent crackling sounds of fire and raging flames, firefighters and volunteer rescuers continuously sprayed water for over an hour before bringing it under control. Investigation revealed that 15 houses were completely destroyed by the fire. The body of one person was found at the scene with a forensic pathologist examining it. Residents said everyone in the community was sleeping when they suddenly heard a noise like someone stepping on glass bottles. Then flames quickly erupted from a house near a daycare centre within the community before spreading to several other houses. Later at 5 a.m. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittiphan inspected the fire-hit community and encouraged the victims while instructing officials to closely monitor the security there as some structures had been damaged by the blaze. He said he had originally planned to go for a morning run, but upon receiving a report of this fire changed his route and immediately went to the community to assess the situation and meet affected citizens. “This is 1,000 times more important than running. We must take care of the people first,” he emphasised. Scene of the blaze at Makkasan community in Sukhumvit Soi 3. Photos on this page – Naewna, Front Page – PPTVHD36 Information Source: Thai Newsroom