Condo On Wireless Road

[Briggsy]

There is a large white condominium block in the square bordered by Phetburi Road, Wireless Road, Khlong Saen Saeb and the expressway. It has 30 or more floors. It must be around 10-20 years old.

Very few people reside there. I asked some Thais I work with why that was. They said that a gas truck exploded on the expressway ramp about 10 years ago and over 50 died. As a result the condominium is haunted and no-one will live there.

I tried to find a news report but was unable. Is this true? Was there an explosion killing lots of people? Is that why the place is deserted?

[jumnien]

I looked at a few units about 5 years ago and it really was not nice at all inside. Too close to the expressway and spooky! Very cheap at the time but no appeal at all.

[Briggsy]

I looked at a few units about 5 years ago and it really was not nice at all inside. Too close to the expressway and spooky! Very cheap at the time but no appeal at all.

How exactly do you mean, "spooky"?

[rafval]

Wittayu Complex, built 1997, doesnt seem that empty, I dont think putting that other building right in front of it helped much, never heard of an explosion there

[CarlBkk]

I think most Thais residing in Bangkok will remember this horrific event. The gas truck hit a bridge I think and the following explosion spread from car to car to car in the queue behind. It was indeed on Phetburi road.

[A_Traveller]

Wasn't that in 1990? There have been a few smaller events since.

Regards

[Graphics]

That's Witthayu Complex, it is actually quite empty. I was at an unit yesterday. Nicely and stylish decorated apartments.

[rafval]

On September 24, 1990, one of the worst road accidents in the history of the country took place. Just before midnight people had noted that the air seemed to be quite foggy and that some kind of temperature inversion was taking place. Near the intersection of Phetburi Road and Witthayu and just under the expressway, a truck loaded with 40,000 liters of propane approached the junction at high speed. The driver didn’t notice that the light had changed — oh boy. In his attempt to avoid oncoming traffic, he swerved, the tanks tipped off the truck and slammed into a nearby building bursting on impact. Gas immediately spread throughout the surrounding area until the sparks from car ignitions lit the gas. The fire and flames spread over an area extending beyond 500 meters in all directions. People from all walks of life, cars of all makes, and shophouses of various types were all engulfed. Nearly one hundred people perished.