Fifteen homes were destroyed after a fire broke out in a crowded residential area in Bangkok’s Dusit district on Tuesday afternoon. There were no reports of serious injuries.
The blaze started at a two-storey house belonging to Prasit Ninprasert, 62, and his wife Oomthip Chanisapong, in Pattana community of Soi Sin Sub on Rama V Road at about 1pm.
The couple told police they were sitting outside the house when they heard a loud bang from the main electrical panel on the second floor and saw smoke billow out a window. Mrs Oomthip said her husband rushed to turn off the main breaker, but the fire had severely damaged the panel and swiftly spread to other parts of the house.
Mr Prasit and neighbours tried to use a dozen fire extinguishers to subdue the flames while waiting for fire engines, but failed to contain them. Police said the fire spread quickly because most of the houses in the community were built of wood and it was relatively windy when the fire erupted.
Firefighters and soldiers from 1st Infantry Regiment managed to get the blaze under control about an hour later. Two people suffered smoke inhalation.
Based on questioning of the couple, Pol Col Songpon Wattanachai, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Division 1, said the fire was caused by an electrical short. But police would investigate further to see if the incident resulted by accident or carelessness before deciding whether to prosecute them.