Burning Building in Bangkok

This building burnt down last night. My apartment building was close enough that it had to be evacuated. The first shot of the fire is from my balcony. Then, when the fire picked up people began panicking, packing their valuables, and leaving. I didn't think the fire was going to spread, but who knew what could happen if a nearby 50+ floor building burnt up and fell down? A strong wind certainly could have spread the fire, as some debris was already falling near my apartment.

I was quite impressed by the police/fire response. They evacuated residential areas that had a chance of burning up (none did, thank God/Whomever), cordoned off the potential fallout area were the building to collapse, and set up several perimeters to control and inform the flow of people to and from the area. Police, firemen, other municipal workers, and good samaritans (like the moto-taxi drivers in orange jerseys) were working seamlessly together. I left my building carrying a few non-replaceables (camera, hard drives, tapes, personal items, passport, money, a single change of clothing, and of course a beer) and went to the main street where I got up on a footbridge for a better shot, but got scared and left as soon as ash started falling on me. Many people came towards the fire, however, even though firemen were advising people to leave the area. One lady you'll see seemed to think it was a good time to see a fortune teller.

The fire had started in the elevator shaft, and so I presume was an electrical fire. Also because electricity was cut off until morning. This pair of buildings was really a landmark. After the Asian market crisis they were left unfinished, but construction recently began again at a rapid pace and was near completion before last night. I wonder what kind of situation that leaves the owner/developer in. I feel sorry for whoever that is, but I hope he pays deeply if any construction workers were sleeping inside (as many often sleep on site), and pray that was not the case.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• fire
• burning
• Bangkok
• CP
• CP_building
• Ratchada

[SteveM818]

Wow, but why didn't those buildings explode into a billion pieces and fall at near freefall speeds like the Twin Towers did in New York City. World Trade Center Building 7 was as tall as the Bangkok buildings, but it fell at freefall speed from fire and a little structural damage to it's South facade from the exploding North Tower. 

youtubeDOTcom/watch?v=Zv7BImVv­Eyk

Hmmmmm....

[JoeyandJon]

That's what I was afraid of... more or less... so I got pretty far away from the fire. Other people were walking towards it, even though the fire dept. and police were saying not to.

[batfly]

@bananian

Yeah the top is much more heavy than the bottom because the bottom is closer to the ground... and never mind the bottom has to support the middle and the top.

[LiquidSmooth]

Oh so if it is just the top, that makes it more unstable compared to the whole building being ablaze?

[bananian]

This fire burnt so differently from WTC, don't even bother comparing them.

WTC fire only burnt at a section with the top part still in tact, which was an immense weight to withstand.

[imdamaster]

well actually there r some terroists in bangkok...but if u think about it they r everywhere.... but yeah this isn't terroist

[shirotensaki]

you said it. EXCUSE.

steel melting point 2500 degree

jet fuel burning max temperature 1200 degree

estimated jet fuel fires in the WTC 800 degree

not even close.

[shirotensaki]

i think he was been sarcastic...

[AcePivot]

this has nothing to do with terrorists! it was an electrical fire in an elevator! jeez! get over yourself!

[kcazaa]

Damn terrorists...ther in Bangkok too!

[dauntlessdive]

Americas excuse was that the jet fuel burned at a much higher temperature, which melted the structure.

[bapyou]

Asshole.