Two dead and 73 cats killed in Thonburi house fire

Two people were found dead and 73 cats were killed in a fire at a three-storey house in Bangkok's Thonburi district early on 18 July.

The blaze broke out at about 06:00 at a house in Soi Somdet Phra Chao Taksin 11, off Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Road, in Samre subdistrict. Police at Samre Police Station received the initial report.

Firefighters from Talat Phlu Fire and Rescue Station, joined by volunteers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation, were sent to the property.

Fire spread from ground floor

Authorities said the fire began on the ground floor and spread to the second floor of the house. Fire crews brought it under control in around 30 minutes.

During the firefighting operation, rescuers safely rescued and evacuated a two-month-old baby and a bedridden elderly woman who had been trapped inside the house.

Rescue workers searching a second-floor room found the bodies of a couple, a 62-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman.

Forensic police and doctors from Siriraj Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine examined the scene and gathered evidence. The bodies were then sent for autopsy.

Cats found inside cages

Officials found the remains of more than 73 cats inside cages in the house. A further 19 cats were rescued alive, with two being given oxygen by responders, for smoke inhalation.

For foreign residents, particularly those renting homes in Bangkok's densely built residential areas, the case is a reminder to know the quickest exits from a property and to keep routes such as stairways and doors clear. Those with pets may also want to consider how animals can be quickly moved from cages or rooms if an evacuation is necessary.

Thailand's fire emergency number is 199. In an immediate emergency, residents should leave the building first and alert the authorities rather than attempting to tackle a spreading fire themselves.

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19 July 2026