Flashermac Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Bangkok Post 9 Jan 2008 A spectacular blaze broke out this morning and enveloped the old Tokyu Department Store and the entire, unfinished 30-storey adjacent skyscraper at Ratchadaphisek. No casualties were reported. Flames leapt more than 100 metres into the sky as the fire consumed the skyscraper, which dominates the area skyline. It was unoccupied, after being abandoned at the halfway point by construction teams in 2002. The old Tokyu Department Store building at the foot of the tower also burst into flames after the fire started, reportedly on the 17th floor and therefore out of the reach of the fire trucks that responded. The fire started just before dawn, just as the morning rush hour started. The Ratchadaphisek Road intersection is a major commuter route The identity of the current owner and management of the complex were not immediately available. But newspaper reports from 1998 said the Ratchada Square complex was held and managed by State Man Co Ltd, a firm close to Santi Prompattana, a well-known politician. By coincidence, the site of the fire is virtually adjacent to land at the centre of criminal charges against Khunying Potjaman, wife of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned to Thailand to hear the charges less than a day before the fire. Fires in abandoned businesses in Bangkok often are believed to be arson, committed for insurance reasons. Forensic detectives likely will closely investigate this fire for any signs of arson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fool Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Where is this? Is it the building across from Carrefour and Robinsons or further up? Can't place it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samak Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 a bit different report from the Nations: Fire breaks out at 52-storey building in Ratchada A fire broke out at 52-floor Cyber World Building on Ratchada Pisek Road early Wednesday, causing heavy traffic congestion in the area. Police said the fire broke out on the 17th floor at 3 am and quickly spread to higher floors. Fire engines took about an hour to control the blaze. Fire fighters could enter the building at about 4 am. Police closed the section of the road from Rama IX Intersection to Huay Kwang Intersection, leading to traffic snarls in the area. The road was opened at about 6 am to try to alleviate the congestion. Deputy Bangkok Governor Wallop Suwandee said the building was under construction so there was no one inside when the fire started. The building is owned by TTC group. The Nation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faustian Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Wow! Someones reporting needs some work....sounds very dubious regardless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Hi, "Is it the building across from Carrefour and Robinsons" Yes. It had been abandoned for years, but over the last few months construction on it has resumed. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samak Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 this fire smells fishy indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelseafan Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Aye, how much to disassemble the tower, clear the land, employ hundreds to do it?.....Millions of baht. Much easier to burn the thing down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTO Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 It wasn't fully abandoned, I knew a company that has offices there the whole time, which made the first time I went there dam hard, I remember saying, "But that's a empty unfinished building" from a taxi and they saying "Unfinished yes, empty no" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygye Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Squatters, no doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaad Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Samak, The building is owned by TTC group. Which is? My brother-in-law said it belongs/belonged to Thaksin's wife. ..Could very well be the case since she's just returned from her hide-out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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