Huge explosion rips through Pattaya construction site

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Huge explosion rips through Pattaya construction site

Pic: Thaivisa News

PATTAYA: Emergency crews are attending the scene of a huge explosion and fire in the Cosy beach area of Pratumnak soi 1 after locals reported hearing a loud explosion earlier today (Sept 7).

Following the explosion, the immediate area was very quickly engulfed with flames, devastating the nearby construction site village.

Early reports suggest the cause of the explosion is believed to be due to an electrical fault, although unconfirmed at this stage.

Thaivisa News will bring you more information on this story as it develops.

Follow live updates below.

-- 2015-09-07

[pinkpanther99]

Yikes.

Maybe this is where the meteor landed!

[slipperylobster]

better check my electrical wiring...

[slipperylobster]

Anyone nearby witness this firsthand?

Was there a fire..then an exposion....or was it simultaneous?

Usually we get some eyewitnesses and some background. I like to see more info than just what I read from a newspaper.

[dennis123]

All I heard were a lot of sirenes and wondering what happened.

[ttthailand]

Was it around 8:45 in the morning ? There was a meteor sited somewhere outside of Bangkok. Was this the landing zone ?

Edited September 7, 2015 by ttthailand

[Jonathan Fairfield]

[hgma]

Lets hope there are no casualties, or injured people to be counted for.

Its usualy the vunarable who get caught in construction disasters.

fingers crossed!

Edited September 7, 2015 by hgma

[ttthailand]

What time did this happen ?

[KhunBENQ]

Comment from the video: "hopefully no one injured".

Wishful thinking,

I am afraid lives will be lost.

Probably a gas explosion and a huge amount of easy flammable (building) material.

Edited September 7, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[KhunBENQ]

Awful lot of smoke:

Edited September 7, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[circusman]

Comment from the video: "hopefully no one injured".

Wishful thinking,

I am afraid lives will be lost.

Probably a gas explosion and a huge amount of easy flammable (building) material.

And the TV guessers start.

[whiteman]

May be some one did not pay tea money to some one or did not pay some council member to build there or the Russians are back in town is that enough TV guessing

[Sullo]

this is kasitsin one right behind executive residence , I lived a few doors up until recently . that camp is for the Perl condo project .

Easily 100 or more mostly Cambodian construction guys , women and their kids are in there. That time of day mostly women and kids.

god help them .

Edited September 7, 2015 by Sullo

[Asiantravel]

What time did this happen ?

I had just cycled up from Royal Cliff hotel at about 10:30 AM and when I reached the five way intersection where the police station is there were hordes of police and other officials who had even blocked off the road down towards the beach so there was absolute traffic chaos.

There were so many sirens and I assumed it was all the fire trucks coming but couldn’t believe they were all ambulances one after another (at least 8 or 9 )

[Lupatria]

That's a little drastic to get rid of one of those "Safety First" signs

[ChrisY1]

Yes......definately a short circuit!

[kannot]

better check my electrical wiring...

Just make sure u got plenty of pvc tape and it should all be fine

[thaikahuna]

Lets hope there are no casualties, or injured people to be counted for.

Its usualy the vunarable who get caught in construction disasters.

fingers crossed!

The sad thing is that electrical was mentioned and these sites are notorious for tapping in to the power lines for the free stolen electric service. The people doing this are more than likely not certified electricians....let's hope no injuries or fatalities.

[fred Kubasa]

Hmn ?, this dosen't usually happen until the buildings are occupied !

[Anthony5]

Follow live updates below.

Really ?

[Nielsk]

As allways, many stupid remarks from some nutcases

[balo]

So any news about this ? Was any lifes lost ?

[Tywais]

Suspicious fire engulfs South Pattaya Constructors Campsite

No injuries were reported following a major fire which engulfed a constructor’s campsite in South Pattaya on Monday afternoon, which Police suspect may be arson.

Fire Trucks were called to Soi Kasetsin 1 off the Pratamnuk Road just before 1pm on Monday to tackle the fire which took over 30 minutes to bring under-control.

The entire campsite, operated by the Skylight Company, was destroyed in the fire which appears to have started in three rooms which had been abandoned 10 minutes before, by three employees who had left after being told they would not be paid for 1 week due to an earlier incident.

Mr. Lit aged 23 from Cambodia, who also lives at the Campsite, told Police that he along with three colleagues had encountered problems with another campsite located nearby and the situation was resolved by his site foreman, who decided to suspend the other three workers for one week.

The three men decided to pack their belongings and leave the camp and 10 minutes after they left, the fire was seen in the vicinity of their rooms. All 50 rooms at the site were destroyed as the fire spread rapidly.

Police have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire which appears to be either an electrical short circuit or a deliberate fire, possibly stared by the disgruntled employees.

More photos here - http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/217817/suspicious-fire-engulfs-south-pattaya-constructors-campsite/

-- Pattaya One September 07, 2015

[balo]

At least no casualties , so thats good news. And I have a feeling there is more to this story....

[berybert]

Those construction workers work their nuts off for next to nothing. I hope the 4 or 5 thousand baht the manager saved by not paying them comes out of his wages to replace the camp site. What a @@@@er.

[webfact]

Suspicious fire engulfs South Pattaya Constructors Campsite



PATTAYA: -- No injuries were reported following a major fire which engulfed a constructor’s campsite in South Pattaya on Monday afternoon, which Police suspect may be arson.

Fire Trucks were called to Soi Kasetsin 1 off the Pratamnuk Road just before 1pm on Monday to tackle the fire which took over 30 minutes to bring under-control.

The entire campsite, operated by the Skylight Company, was destroyed in the fire which appears to have started in three rooms which had been abandoned 10 minutes before, by three employees who had left after being told they would not be paid for 1 week due to an earlier incident.

Khun Chockchai aged 16, who works as a Security Guard for the construction company, told Police that he was sleeping when he saw smoke and saw that the room next to him was on fire.

Mr. Lit aged 23 from Cambodia, who also lives at the Campsite, told Police that he along with three colleagues had encountered problems with another campsite located nearby and the situation was resolved by his site foreman, who decided to suspend the other three workers for one week.

Full story http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/217817/suspicious-fire-engulfs-south-pattaya-constructors-campsite/


-- Pattaya One 2015-09-08

[ksamuiguy]

Arc Flash, shorts can be devastating drawing thousands of Amps instantaneously.

[jacko45k]

Those construction workers work their nuts off for next to nothing. I hope the 4 or 5 thousand baht the manager saved by not paying them comes out of his wages to replace the camp site. What a @@@@er.

He was suspending them due to some dispute with another camp-site, if newspaper reports are accurate.

Not sure why the supervisor should be responsible for their retaliation, if that was the case.

Suspending foreign workers for a week seems odd anyhow, what are they supposed to do, hang around in their company supplied accommodation until the suspension is over or roam the streets? That is why some guys get escorted off premises by security I suppose, but in reality their WP and Visa should be cancelled and they should be repatriated. I agree these guys get treated pretty badly, but their reaction, putting so many lives at risk, indicates some issues with the guys!

[zaphod reborn]

Those construction workers work their nuts off for next to nothing. I hope the 4 or 5 thousand baht the manager saved by not paying them comes out of his wages to replace the camp site. What a @@@@er.

He was suspending them due to some dispute with another camp-site, if newspaper reports are accurate.

Not sure why the supervisor should be responsible for their retaliation, if that was the case.

Suspending foreign workers for a week seems odd anyhow, what are they supposed to do, hang around in their company supplied accommodation until the suspension is over or roam the streets? That is why some guys get escorted off premises by security I suppose, but in reality their WP and Visa should be cancelled and they should be repatriated. I agree these guys get treated pretty badly, but their reaction, putting so many lives at risk, indicates some issues with the guys!

Suspension pending an investigation is covered by the Labor Protection Act. It does not terminate the employment relationship, so resigning a work permit and canceling a foreign worker's visa is inappropriate and may even be illegal. While on suspension, the employee receives 50% of their regular wage.