Feline fire fiasco: More than 20 injured in Samut Prakan blaze

A late-night fire in a crowded apartment building in Samut Prakan’s Mueang district left more than 20 residents nursing minor injuries from smoke inhalation. The chaos erupted around midnight yesterday, October 15, as hundreds of tenants made a frantic escape from the five-storey building on Samrong Soi 20.

The fire reportedly ignited in a second-floor room, where the tenant had stepped out, leaving an electric fan running—reportedly to keep their cat cool. This seemingly innocent oversight quickly turned disastrous, forcing residents to flee as thick smoke filled the hallways.

Emergency responders acted swiftly, aiding many tenants to safety. A total of 27 individuals, including vulnerable elderly residents, required first aid treatment at the scene. Five of those affected, experiencing severe symptoms of smoke inhalation, were rushed to hospital for further care.

Thanks to the efforts of the firefighters, the blaze was extinguished before it could spread to other rooms. One tenant, known only as Pichai, recounted his attempt to battle the flames with a fire extinguisher, as smoke irritated his eyes and obstructed his vision.

“I tried to put it out, but the smoke was unbearable.”

Pichai wasn’t alone in his initial efforts, as several others joined him, only to retreat when the smoke proved too overwhelming.

Local police have announced plans to question the tenant whose room is believed to be the source of the fire, hoping to determine the circumstances that led to this alarming incident. Police reminded residents to remain vigilant and avoid leaving electrical appliances unattended, as the consequences can be devastating, reported Thai PBS World.

In related news, firefighters battled a blaze on the second floor of a house in Bangkok, discovering the tragic scene of 11 cats dead and five severely injured. The owner was in shock, revealing she housed 29 cats there.

In other news, in a dramatic rescue that will leave pet owners double-checking their ceilings, a cat missing for eight days was finally saved after being discovered trapped in an eyewear shop’s ceiling in Si Racha, Chon Buri.