More than 20 people sustained minor injuries from smoke inhalation during a fire in a crowded apartment building in Mueang district of Samut Prakan late Tuesday night.
Hundreds of tenants scrambled out of the five-storey building in Samrong Soi 20 when fire broke out in a second floor room, the tenant of which had gone out, leaving an electric fan running, reportedly for a cat.
Emergency workers managed to help numerous tenants to safety, 27 of whom, including some elderly people, were suffering the effects of smoke inhalation and were given first aid treatment at the scene. Five people, suffering the most severe symptoms, were rushed to hospital.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire before it spread to other rooms.
One tenant, identified only as “Pichai”, said he tried to put the fire out using a fire extinguisher, but had to withdraw because the smoke irritated his eyes and made it impossible to see. More people joined him to fight the fire, but they quickly abandoned their efforts because of the smoke and waited for the arrival of firefighters.
Police say they will invite the tenant of the room, in which the fire reportedly originated, to come in for questioning.
