SCB deaths linked to false alarm in fire-suppression system

SCB reported to the Stock Exchange yesterday that the incident did not involve a fire or explosion, as previously reported. Bank officials cited an initial police probe suggesting negligence on the part of the contractor hired to improve the building’s fire protection system. SCB also said it would provide assistance to victims: Bt100,000 for those who died and Bt30,000 for people injured. 

Bang-on Toyai, wife of deceased SCB guard Wirat Deedpin, claimed her husband died while trying to help the workers. But when they tried to get out of the room, the door suddenly bolted shut and the security card and password failed to re-open it. She said she learned about the door shutting from other guards and the CCTV footage. 

“I’m devastated by this loss. My husband, a good man who died trying to help others, is the sole breadwinner to our six children and me. I also suffer from diabetes leading to the amputating of my left leg over a year ago,” she said, urging the bank to help her family.

Association of Siamese Architects vice chairman Bandit Pradapsuk, who inspected the document-storage area where the mishap occurred, with forensic police, said the contractor’s employees may have drilled into a wall to put in extra devices, producing dust that activated two smoke-detection devices and a pyrogen fire-suppression system. 

Acting Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Sanit Mahathaworn responded to questions regarding delays in the rescue response by saying the building’s security system prevented easy access. He said that people inside failed to flee after hearing an alarm, which reportedly sounded for three minutes.

Forensic Science Office chief Pol Maj-General Thawatchai Mekprasert-suk said the site inspection meant to determine why the pyrogen system was activated. He said SCB was trying to improve its fire-fighting system, changing from pyrogen to a safer “clean agent” nitrogen-based system. 

A police source said workers, working in the basement for three months, might not have been told about the system because they didn’t vacate the scene when the alarm sounded. 

As of press time, police had not filed charges or concluded if negligence or system error was to blame. The investigation could take a week, Metropolitan Police Area 2 chief Pol Maj-General Charoen Srisalak said. He said police interviewed 10 witnesses and would summon a subcontractor working for Pathum Thani-based contractor Megaplanet, plus SCB building and safety engineers. Megaplanet said executives were away or not available.

SCB president Yol Phokasub said the bank was improving fire-safety systems especially in areas such as vaults where important documents were stored after a fire last year. The bank had a firefighting team to initially respond to incidents, he said. 

The incident had not damaged bank assets, he said, adding SCB was ready to cooperate with police. 

Institute of Forensic Medicine head Pornchai Sutheerakhun said initial autopsy results showed the eight victims died from oxygen deprivation. They were Wirat Deedpin, Peerapat Koyprakhon, Saifon Laenkhot, Nanphetch Mahasanit, Natthawut Nasompong, Kannika Sinsiri and Wilai Khanthong and Yutthana Khonkan. 

A Labour Ministry official said |agencies had been told to aid victims’ families. The Social Security Office would provide Bt30,000 for each funeral and compensation worth 60 per cent of their salaries over eight years, while medical bills of the injured would be covered up to Bt100,000 and they would also get 60 per cent of their salaries for a year, he said.