Khlong Thom Centre blaze spreads after parts of building subside

A fire at Khlong Thom Centre on Worachak Road in Pom Prap subdistrict, Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, Bangkok, remained uncontrolled late on Friday night, with parts of the structure subsiding and the flames spreading to a nearby building on the Yaowarat Road side.

Three people were initially reported injured at the scene: a volunteer and firefighters from Suan Mali and Samsen fire and rescue stations. They received first aid before being taken to Klang Hospital.

Earlier, POLICETV, the Royal Thai Police television station, posted a video of the incident along with an urgent appeal for motorists to make way for fire engines.

“Urgent! Please make way for fire engines. The 199 emergency hotline has received a report of a fire inside Khlong Thom Centre on Worachak Road, Pom Prap subdistrict, Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. Firefighters and rescue crews from Suan Mali Fire and Rescue Station are heading to the scene,” the post read.

Timeline of the incident

The fire was first reported at 8.50pm, with the blaze believed to have started in a shop on the ground floor of Khlong Thom Centre. Fire and rescue teams from Phaya Thai, Banthat Thong, Bang Rak, Phu Khao Thong, Samsen, Phahon Yothin, Bang Pho and Sutthisan were deployed to support operations at the scene.

By 9.15pm, flames had engulfed the entire ground floor and reached the mezzanine. There were no reports at that stage of the fire spreading to neighbouring buildings.

At 9.27pm, firefighters were still unable to bring the blaze under control around the access to the car park. Intermittent explosions could be heard, while flames had also become visible at the rear of the building.

At 10.16pm, parts of the building began to subside as firefighters worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt arrived at the scene together with Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth and the director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

Yutthana Thakot, head of the Disaster Relief Department at the Poh Teck Tung Foundation, briefed the DDPM team on the situation as officials planned their response operation.

At 10.41pm, three people were initially reported injured at the scene: a volunteer and firefighters from Suan Mali and Samsen fire and rescue stations. They received first aid before being taken to Klang Hospital.

At 10.48pm, the fire spread to a nearby building on the Yaowarat Road side. The building housed a shop selling audio equipment and products including Bluetooth devices, batteries, speaker cabinets and electrical cables.

At 10.49pm, fire and rescue crews, together with disaster relief units, were working to bring the blaze under control and deploying water at the scene.

Motorists and residents were urged to keep emergency routes clear along Worachak Road, Charoen Krung Road, Luang Road and surrounding streets, and to avoid travelling through the area until further notice.

Parking and double parking were prohibited to allow emergency vehicles, fire hoses and water trucks to operate safely.

People not involved in the emergency response were asked to stay away from the scene and avoid gathering to watch the fire because of the risks posed by smoke and the building’s structural condition.

At 11.13pm, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported that firefighters had brought the blaze at Khlong Thom Centre under control.