Pattaya Daily News

Pattaya, the 16^th of April 2010 [PDN]: At approximately 2:00pm, police Lieutenant Colonel Chaiyaphorn Thongnaphieng (Banglamung Police Investigator) was notified of a shop house fire near the New Naklua Market on Sawang Fa Road, Naklua. A team comprised of Banglamung Police, Sawang Boriboon Foundation personnel and fire crews from Pattaya Fire Department were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Arriving at the fire, a 2-storey shop house comprised of 3 attached units was ablaze from the 2^nd storey. The fire had begun to spread from the first unit, the ‘Ngamthaworn’ Fashion Shop into the adjoining unit before fire fighters were able to assist. A large crowd had gathered on the street in front of the buildings as all market vendors had hurriedly packed up their stalls in fear that the fire would spread further.

After almost an hour of battling the fire it was extinguished with the 2^nd floor of the ‘Ngamthaworn’ Fashion Shop completely destroyed whilst the adjoining units 2^nd storey had only partly been engulfed by the flames. Officials estimate that over 2 million baht in damaged was caused in the blaze.

Sawang Boriboon Rescue teams had to rush the owner and resident of the ‘Ngamthaworn’ Fashion Shop, Mrs Nonglak Gnamphocanamongkhon [65], to the Banglamung Hospital after she appeared to be suffering from severe smoke inhalation. Mrs. Gnamphocanamongkhon was later transferred to the Chon-Buri Hospital as her condition had worsened.

Police subsequently interrogated Mrs Gnamphocanamongkhon’s son, Mr. Kitgomon [36] who stated that he was setting-up his market stall in front of the building when he noticed a plume of smoke emanating from the 2^nd floor. A neighbour from the adjoining unit informed him that his mother was still inside the building, at which point he rushed in to rescue her from the flames. Mrs. Gnamphocanamongkhon was found slumped in the residences sitting room suffering badly after inhaling too much of the smoke whilst attempting to escape. Mr. Kitgomon revealed that his father had been away taking their three grandchildren out for Songkran at the time of the incident.

At present the cause of the fire is still unknown, however; Mr. Kitgomon has stated that at the time of the incident there had been no candles, incense or open flames burning in the building, to his knowledge. Forensic investigators will examine the scene as soon as it is safe to do so, although an electrical fire is expected to have been the cause.

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Extensive Gallery [ 4 photos ]