Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A house fire in the early hours of the morning of 24 July, has claimed the lives of four members of the same family, father, mother and two young sons, after they were trapped in their upstairs bedrooms and unable to escape the rapidly spreading blaze.

 

The fire broke out at approximately 01:10 in a two-storey concrete home located in Nai Mueang subdistrict, Mueang district of Nakhon Ratchasima province. Police from Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima Police Station, along with six fire engines from the Nakhon Ratchasima Municipality and Nong Phai Lom Subdistrict Municipality, responded swiftly to the emergency.

 

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered intense flames engulfing the property. After a 45 minute effort, they managed to bring the fire under control. However, the horror of the scene became clear during a subsequent inspection of the upper floor, where four charred bodies were discovered in a bedroom. The victims were later identified as:

 

• Mr. Wanchaphong, 27, the father

• Ms. Nicha, 26, the mother

• Master Nawawit, 8, son

• Master Narathip, 4, son

 

Three other people escaped the blaze, including the children’s 62-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Suri, who suffered burns to her body. Two other family members managed to escape unharmed.

 

According to a preliminary investigation, the home was occupied by seven people and also served as a base for a small home bakery business operated on the ground floor. Survivors stated they noticed sparks near a power strip close to a computer desk on the first floor. The fire reportedly spread rapidly, likely fuelled by combustible materials nearby.

 

Efforts to extinguish the flames with extinguishers failed, prompting the household members to alert emergency services. In a desperate attempt to rescue the sleeping family upstairs, several members tried to reach the second floor but were repelled by the rapidly intensifying fire.

 

Police believe the cause of the blaze was likely an electrical short circuit, possibly due to substandard electrical equipment. The charred remains have been taken to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital for further examination, while the injured woman transported to Suranaree Military Hospital.

 

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the exact cause of the fire and will conduct a full forensic inspection of property.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-07-24

 

 

 

Absolutely tragic and a tragedy that might have been avoided.

 

As the wife's house was being finished off, I ordered and fitted smoke alarms in every room, bar the bathrooms.

 

The Thai family were strongly of the opinion I was mental and should be committed. Strange people.

 

 

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Survivors stated they noticed sparks near a power strip close to a computer desk on the first floor.

Inadequate or no circuit breakers ?