Transformer explosion traps tourist in Pattaya condo elevator

An electrical transformer explosion late last night at 11.30pm caused significant disruption at a luxury condominium in Pattaya. The incident, yesterday, July 16, left a young female foreign tourist trapped inside an elevator for over 20 minutes. The condominium, situated in Soi 16, Na Kluea, Banglamung District, Chon Buri Province, stands eight floors tall.

Residents and condo officials quickly mobilised to assist the stranded tourist, who was estimated to be between 25 and 30 years old. They worked diligently to pry open the elevator door on the ground floor.

Officials arrived promptly, equipped with pry tools and fans to ventilate the elevator. They also provided drinking water to the distressed tourists.

The power outage affecting the entire condo complex was traced back to a nearby transformer explosion that ignited the wires. Condo employees had already contacted electrical and fire officials for assistance, reported The Pattaya News.

Officials assessed the situation and successfully rescued the young tourist. The tourist, whose name was not disclosed, expressed gratitude for the quick response of the officials.

In related news, following a distressing incident where passengers were trapped in a lift at a BTS station for over an hour, Thailand’s Deputy Transport Minister, Surapong Piyachote, has ordered an immediate investigation into the malfunction.

The incident took place yesterday between the ticketing floor and the street level, heading towards Kheha station on the BTS Skytrain’s Sukhumvit and Silom lines.

Surapong instructed the Department of Rail Transport’s Director-General, Pichet Kunathammarak, to coordinate with the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC), the operator of the BTS Skytrain, to promptly establish the cause of the failure.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 5.20pm, involved one male and two female passengers who were unable to open the lift doors. The passengers were successfully rescued at 6.19pm.

CCTV footage confirmed that the passengers were stuck for an hour, after which they received initial medical attention.