Late-Night Blaze Near Rama IX Causes Chaos and Blackout in Bangkok

Picture from responders.

Bangkok was gripped by a dramatic late-night fire near a major shopping mall in the Rama IX intersection area, causing panic among residents and bringing traffic to a standstill.

The incident occurred late on 8 April when a large transformer caught fire at the Saen Saeb substation, located in Din Daeng District. Firefighters and rescue personnel from Huai Khwang Fire Station responded swiftly to the emergency.

Fire crews managed to extinguish the blaze within a relatively short time. Once the fire was under control, officials began assessing the damage and investigating the cause of the incident.

Authorities confirmed that a widespread power outage in the Rama IX area was caused by an intentional power cut, which was necessary to extinguish the fire safely.

The fire, which occurred behind Fortune Town shopping mall near the “MCOT Junction” (Asok-Din Daeng intersection), was widely reported by local residents on social media. Many Facebook users shared updates, warning others to avoid the area due to severe traffic congestion and to stay safe as the situation unfolded.

One Facebook user posted during the incident: “Terrifying! Another fire behind Fortune… the entire condo block at MCOT junction is without power… It’s been ages and there’s no sign of the electricity authorities. People are about to faint!”

Later that evening, at approximately 21:40, the fire was reported to be fully under control and electricity had been restored to the affected area.

-- 2025-04-09