Samut prakan: A loud explosion and subsequent fire at a battery repair shop in Soi Si Sok, Bang Sao Thong Subdistrict, Bang Sao Thong District, resulted in the destruction of four adjacent houses and damage to five cars, causing panic among residents in the densely populated area.
According to Thai News Agency, the fire erupted in a single-story warehouse attached to several houses in a residential community where homes are closely built. The flames spread rapidly, prompting police to coordinate with the fire department to extinguish the blaze. Firefighters deployed hoses strategically to encircle the fire and prevent it from engulfing neighboring homes.
As the fire escalated, residents in rented rooms and nearby houses evacuated, fearing for their safety as smoke filled their homes. It took approximately one hour for firefighters to control the blaze. Initial investigations indicated that the warehouse and neighboring houses were completely destroyed, while a house behind the warehouse sustained partial damage.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple explosions before the fire erupted, forcing them to flee. The owner of a house next to the warehouse recounted being awoken by the explosions and fleeing with their partner as smoke invaded their home.
The fire reportedly originated in the warehouse, which was used for repairing old batteries and storing various items, including several parked cars. The owner of the warehouse admitted that batteries were left plugged in, leading to a presumed short circuit that sparked the fire. As a result, the warehouse, an adjacent house, and five cars were completely destroyed.