A 93 year old woman dies in tragic Bangkok gas explosion

Tragedy struck when a 93 year old woman was engulfed in flames following a gas explosion in her kitchen, leading to her untimely death. The incident occurred yesterday, November 13, in a three-storey townhouse located in Soi Udomsuk, Huai Khwang district.

The police were alerted to the scene at 2pm, with Rakkiat Pathumwan, an investigation officer from Sutthisan police station, coordinating with the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department, forensic officers, Ramathibodi Hospital’s on-call doctors, and volunteers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation. Upon arrival, they found significant fire damage in the kitchen area, particularly around a gas stove and a 15-kilogramme gas cylinder.

The victim, identified only as Kaesorn, was discovered deceased on the kitchen floor, her body severely burnt. Initial inspections indicated that food was left on the stove, and there was minor fire damage to the surrounding area.

One neighbour recounted hearing a loud explosion, prompting them to investigate the source.

“We heard a loud bang and saw smoke billowing from the house.”

Concerned for their safety and that of the victim, neighbours immediately notified the police and rescue teams.

In the interim, several neighbours attempted to extinguish the flames using fire extinguishers and managed to shut off the gas valve and remove the gas cylinder from the premises. They also contacted the victim’s relatives, who reside nearby, to inform them of the tragic event.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Kaesorn was in the process of reheating food when a gas leak occurred, possibly from the hose or at the gas head. A spark is believed to have ignited the leaked gas, resulting in the explosion, reported KhaoSod.

The forensic team is currently examining the scene to determine the precise cause of the fire. Meanwhile, the police have sent the body to Ramathibodi Hospital for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.