By NNN-TNA,
Bangkok : Injured patrons of a burning Bangkok sauna rooftop were rescued by helicopter as a fire raged through a landmark commercial and residential building in the Chinatown business district Sunday night, leaving at least one man dead and injuring 47 others, including guest house residents and spa customers.
Fire raged through Suapa Plaza in Pomprab district, with a well-known sauna and spa as well as a guest house, popular for travellers on its upper floors. Most of those who were evacuated suffered only minor injuries and returned home, but it is unknown how many were trapped inside the building.
Fire-panicked residents and spa customers rushed to the roof waving white towels calling for help.
Fire and rescue vehicles from around the city converged in the narrow streets, causing huge traffic congestion.
Police and other rescue workers were making their way through the gutted building Monday morning.
The authorities said the fire broke out at the Sua Pa Plaza building around 8pm, when witnesses saw smoke coming from a mobile telephone accessories shop which spread to other floors.
The first three floors of the nine-stories building were shopping areas mainly selling mobile phone accessories. The 5th and 6th floors were residential area, with spa, sauna and traditional massage services.
The dead man was identified as Sanguan Sankaew, 45, believed to be a customer of the 7th floor spa and sauna service.
Because of the narrow road and the number of fire engines sent to fight the fire, traffic on Suapa Road was heavily congested, even in the morning as police were forced to close some lanes due to falling debris from the burning building.
Firefighters and police rescued many persons unable to exit the building, while helicopters were used to rescue fire victims who fled to the building’s rooftop.
The rescue workers temporarily halted rescue operations due to high heat inside the building. The residential area on the 5th and 6th floors could not be accessed, police said, but search and rescue operations were resumed Monday morning. Forensic experts would be called on to find the cause of the fire.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol. Lt-Gen. Suchart Muenkaew said until now the police could not specify how many people died from the fire as the search was incomplete, particularly the 5th floor. Cracks found at the building caused fear that the building would collapse.
About 100 people live inside the building and some 40 were rescued and rushed to the hospitals nearby including the Central Hospital and Hua Chew Hospital. Most of them suffered from the smoke inhalation.