Bangkok Conducts Full-Scale Emergency Disaster Drill for 2024

[Georgealbert]

 

 

Pictures courtesy of DDPM

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), on September 8, in collaboration with various affiliated agencies and partners, conducted a full-scale emergency disaster drill for the year 2024. The exercise, organised by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), involved the participation of relevant organisations, including the police, fire, military, volunteers, and foundations. The drill was held at Bangkok City Hall 2, located in Din Daeng.

 

Before the exercise commenced, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Assoc. Prof. Tawida Kamolvej, held a briefing with all participating agencies, offering instructions and guidance. She also inspected the preparedness of the involved units.

 

 

The exercise scenario simulated a large-scale emergency, with key incidents unfolding in sequence as follows:

 

An electric vehicle (EV) fire broke out in the underground parking area of the Irawat Pattana Building at Bangkok City Hall 2, spreading to multiple parked cars. Building security immediately assessed the situation and reported it to the emergency hotline (199). Firefighters from Huai Khwang and Sutthisan stations were dispatched to the scene. District officers were also notified to manage traffic, and ambulances were dispatched by the Erawan Centre.

 

Several people were trapped in the smoke-filled underground parking area, some suffering from smoke inhalation. The fire intensified, and thick smoke spread to the nearby 37-story Thaninoparat Building. Firefighters established an incident command centre at the scene, while police managed traffic and cordoned off the area.

 

Some people attempted to flee the underground parking area, leading to car collisions on levels 1, 2, and 3. Firefighters rescued those trapped and called for additional support, including more firefighting teams and drones.

 

The Director of the Din Daeng District arrived to oversee the situation, establishing a district-level incident command centre and coordinating rescue efforts with local volunteers.

 

Communication command vehicles and drone teams from the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department were deployed to establish a communications network and provide aerial footage to assist in locating missing individuals and assessing the physical structure of the building.

 

The fire continued to intensify, with flames and thick smoke reaching the Thaninoparat Building. Firefighters and rescue teams searched for trapped individuals, many of whom were injured or unconscious due to smoke inhalation.

 

Drones reported the discovery of trapped individuals near the cooling tower, requiring the assistance of high-rise rescue teams and an aerial platform vehicle. The fire was eventually brought under control, and all injured individuals were evacuated.

 

Given the severity of the situation, the district director requested an escalation of the disaster response to level 2, notifying the Bangkok Governor.

 

The Governor of Bangkok arrived at the scene and directed the deployment of additional rescue teams, including heavy machinery and engineers to assess the structural integrity of the building. Specialised equipment was used to clear the underground exits, allowing further evacuation efforts.

 

A city-wide incident command centre was established by the Governor to coordinate the response.

 

Chemical hazard teams assessed air and water quality in the area, while Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams used advanced equipment to locate and extract survivors, who were then treated by medical teams.

 

Following the successful exercise, Mr. Surichai Rawiwann, Director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, led a debriefing session with team leaders to report the outcomes and challenges to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt and City Clerk Wantanee Watthana. The city’s leadership provided feedback on addressing identified gaps and policies for improving disaster response efficiency. Emphasis was placed on using new equipment for rapid incident containment and enhancing coordination between BMA agencies and external partners.

 

Video below shows the deployment of the Bangkok Fire Service specialist long duration (4 hours) breathing apparatus search team and the the high rise rope rescue teams.

 

 

 

 

-- 2024-09-09

 

 

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[hotchilli]

Good to see professionals preparedness practiced, evaluated, and updated.