BANGKOK — 29 August 2026, A major fire at Khlong Thom Center in Bangkok was brought under control early on 29 August, with two hotspots still smoldering and 10 people injured, including nine volunteer firefighters.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt inspected the scene at around 09:00 on 29 August and said the fire began shortly after 21:00 the previous night at Khlong Thom Center, a shopping complex specializing in electrical equipment and general goods.
The center is about 20 years old and covers roughly 4 rai. The building has a steel structure, with small shops on the lower level and a parking area above.
The fire also spread to two commercial units in the adjacent Sai Thong project behind the center, which were being used to store materials and equipment.
The first fire engine from Suan Mali Fire and Rescue Station arrived within five minutes. However, the flames spread rapidly and firefighters faced difficulties reaching some areas because of the large number of small shops inside the complex.
There were three red fire hydrants in the area, allowing firefighters to contain the blaze. The main Khlong Thom Center building was brought under control between around 02:00 and 03:00, while the fire at the adjacent commercial units was extinguished at around 05:00.
As of 09:00, two areas were still hot and smoldering, with smoke continuing to rise. Firefighters were working carefully to find a safe way into the affected areas and extinguish the remaining flames.
Chadchart said the main difficulty was not a lack of water but getting water to the source of the fire because parts of the building blocked access. Much of the material inside consisted of plastic, batteries and mobile phone equipment, which can ignite easily, spread flames rapidly and produce toxic gases.
The building’s steel structure was also a safety concern. Chadchart said intense heat had caused parts of the structure to collapse inward, rather than outward, limiting the impact on surrounding structures.
Officials must assess the building’s stability before entering to extinguish the remaining hotspots.
10 injured, firefighter on ventilator
Ten people were injured in the fire, including one member of the public and nine volunteer firefighters.
Four people remained hospitalized as of the morning of 29 August. One volunteer firefighter was in serious condition after spending about 30 minutes fighting the blaze and inhaling toxic smoke.
The firefighter was initially treated at Klang Hospital before being transferred to Somdech Phra Pinklao Hospital, which has more advanced respiratory support equipment.
No deaths were reported in the fire.
Battery suspected as possible cause
Chadchart said the preliminary theory was that the fire may have started from batteries stored inside one of the shops.
According to the project owner, the center normally shuts off its main electrical breakers at 20:00 as a safety measure. However, authorities said they must wait for forensic officers to determine the actual cause.
Officials are also investigating whether the building’s sprinkler system functioned properly.
The owner said sprinklers had been installed, but Chadchart said videos posted on TikTok appeared to show that the system was not operating during the fire.
Officials will investigate the matter further.
More than 300 vendors affected
Around 300 vendors operate at the center, with approximately 100 formal rental contracts. About 70 people had registered their claims for assistance at Wat Phra Phiren as of the morning.
The total value of damage has yet to be assessed and will be determined by the project owner.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has established a coordination and damage-reporting center at Wat Phra Phiren, opposite Khlong Thom Center.
Police and Bangkok officials will receive damage reports, verify rental agreements and confirm the identities of actual vendors before arranging initial assistance and coordinating insurance claims.
Authorities will also create a registration system allowing vendors to enter the site to inspect their belongings once the area is declared safe.
Security personnel and municipal officers will monitor the area to prevent theft, as many of the goods are small and easy to take. Chadchart warned that anyone caught stealing would face the strongest possible legal action.
Smoke moving north
Chadchart said winds were currently carrying smoke north toward Wat Saket, also known as the Golden Mount, rather than toward nearby Klang Hospital.
Residents in downwind areas were advised to wear masks and avoid entering the area unless necessary.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will deploy air-quality monitoring vehicles to test the air for chemical pollutants.
Chadchart said the fire appeared to be the first major Khlong Thom Center fire during his tenure as governor.
He noted that three fires occurred in Bangkok overnight, including the Khlong Thom Center blaze, a condominium fire where residents were evacuated in time, and a house fire near Soi On Nut 27 that killed one person.
He urged residents to take extra precautions against fires, saying the recent dry conditions, limited rainfall and strong winds could increase the risk of fires spreading rapidly.