Problems with an escape route and inadequate smoke ventilation are suspected to have contributed to the death of a doctor during a fire at a Bangkok condominium on Oct 9.
The fire broke out in a unit on the 16th floor of the 38-storey building on Pin Klao Road, opposite the Pata department store in Bangkok Noi district. The cause has not yet been determined as the fire destroyed the 60-square-metre unit before it was brought under control.
The fatality was reported on the Facebook page Medical Civil Society. It said that the doctor, who was also an associate professor, died inside the building’s fire escape, while 14 other people were injured.
Upon inspection, the condominium was found to have a fully installed fire alarm and pressurised fan system, which are designed to help during fire emergencies and were functioning normally.
The family of the deceased said he had followed all proper safety procedures during the fire – using a smoke mask and choosing to evacuate via the fire escape. However, the safe route turned dangerous, they said.
It is suspected that someone might have left a fire escape door open previously. When the fire broke out, smoke could have flowed back into the stairwell, turning it into a chimney-like shaft and allowing smoke to accumulate, ultimately causing suffocation.
An official cause of death has not been released. The family has called for safety improvements and emphasised the importance of building safety systems to prevent such tragedies in the future.