FORENSIC Police started investigating last night’s huge inferno at Trok Pho community on Yaowarat road but as yet are unable to determine exactly where it started amid difficult conditions with water still being sprayed at some spots to prevent the fire from reigniting, Thai Rath newspaper said this afternoon (July 7).
It is as yet unclear how many houses were burnt down with one report saying 30 but Praram Radio Centre put the total at 60. The blaze also spread to the New Empire Hotel damaging its fourth, fifth and sixth floors. Also damaged were the fourth and fifth floors of Chalermburi shark fin and Tai Cheng Hot Pot & Dim Sum restaurants.
This radio centre added that many of the houses that were gutted were made of wood and built close to each other with damage spread across one and 2 wah land plot.
Five men were injured in this big fire with one admitted to Hua Chiew Hospital after suffering an electric shock, two men were admitted to BMA General Hospital (Klang Hospital) for smoke inhalation while two others were also being treated at Taksin and Samitivej Chinatown hospitals for the same condition but on outpatient basis.
Patients at Thian Fah Foundation Hospital who had been evacuated to Wat Traimit temple have now moved back to this hospital.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Bureau of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has opened a temporary shelter for both Thais and Myanmar migrant workers rendered homeless by this inferno.
At 9 a.m. reporters said that firemen had been spraying water at the site all night and in the morning some rescuers went in on foot and were able to save some cats. The whole area was cordoned off to wait for forensic officers to come in and investigate.
At 10. 30 a.m. some forensic officers came to collect evidence and investigate the cause of the fire but were only able to work with difficulty because water was still being sprayed at the site. They then went up to a tall building and took some photos.
Regarding hearsay that the fire had started from a sweet shop that had been extended, Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiwpan, head of the Police Forensic Science Office, said it is still not possible to identify in which building the blaze began but this has been narrowed down to around three to four of them.
Forensic police and rescuers must first inspect the wreckage in coordination with Metropolitan Police Division 6 when possible.
Firemen have not stopped spraying water at the site because smoke is still billowing amid hot and windy weather today, he added.
CAPTION:
The Chinatown community gutted by last night’s fire. Photos: Thai Rath
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