Two high rise buildings on Ratchadaphisek Road have been declared "danger zones", following the fire Wednesday that caused the preliminary damage of Bt100 million.
The flames were fuelled by plastic and paper around the buildings, which were being renovated.
The cost of the Cyber World Tower fire has been estimated at about Bt100 million. However, insurers said yesterday it was too early to make an accurate calculation. The main insurer of the two buildings is South East Insurance.
Complex owner TCC Land insured the building for a total of Bt3.1 billion during construction, and Bt2.48 billion of that was carried by South East, company insurance vice president Lertchai Prapasirirat said. The main reinsurer is Swiss Re. According to the Office of the Insurance Commission, Indara Insurance carried the extra Bt622 million of Cyber World Tower's current insurance.
Thai Charoen Commercial Group owns both South East and TCC Land. It is in the business empire of liquor tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has declared the buildings "off limits" for 30 days. Only authorised officials such as police officers from the Scientific Crime Detection Division and engineers from the BMA Public Works Department will be allowed access.
Police are investigating the cause of the fire, and engineers will have to decide whether the buildings will be safe for future use.
One of the blocks, Building A, is 51 storeys high, while the other, Building B, is 47 storeys.
"Should the buildings be declared safe, the owner must put greater emphasis on safety improvements during the renovations bearing in mind the safety of the general public passing by," Huai Khwang district office director Pavinee Armarttat said yesterday.
The road on which the buildings are located leads to the Thailand Cultural Centre.
During the fire, glass and pieces of material fell on nearby buildings and vehicles, damaging them.
BD Auto Company reported that falling material damaged 10 of its luxury cars, including BMWs and Jaguars.
Pavinee said part of one of the buildings was once a department store. However, due to economic problems, the store closed down and the two buildings changed hands a number of times.
The current owner is the TCC Land Group.
Last year, the group hired Ritta Company to renovate the buildings as part of a plan to create Cyber World Tower, which was due to open last month. However, renovation work had not been completed at the time the fire broke out yesterday.
Police have already questioned the company's engineer, Thammanan Chanapai, who first saw flames on the 15th floor of Building B shortly after 3am.
"I had been working on documents on the sixth floor, because we were going to hand over the completed renovations to the customer next Tuesday," Thammanan was quoted by police as saying.
"Around 3am, I felt too sleepy and decided to go home. On my way back to my car, I saw the flames and alerted security guards and also called the police."
Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, said around 50 firefighters were dispatched to scene.
"Anyone affected by the fire can lodge a complaint with the director of the Huai Khwang District Office," he said.
Bangkok Mass Transit Authority driver Manoon Charoonpradone complained to police that some valuables went missing from his house after he and his family ran for their lives when they saw the towers were on fire nearby.
"We forgot to lock our door when we ran out. When we returned, my wallet, some cash, wristwatch, clothes and documents were gone," he said.
Manoon said his neighbours also had valuables stolen.
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The flames were fuelled by plastic and paper around the buildings, which were being renovated.
The cost of the Cyber World Tower fire has been estimated at about Bt100 million. However, insurers said yesterday it was too early to make an accurate calculation. The main insurer of the two buildings is South East Insurance.
Complex owner TCC Land insured the building for a total of Bt3.1 billion during construction, and Bt2.48 billion of that was carried by South East, company insurance vice president Lertchai Prapasirirat said. The main reinsurer is Swiss Re. According to the Office of the Insurance Commission, Indara Insurance carried the extra Bt622 million of Cyber World Tower's current insurance.
Thai Charoen Commercial Group owns both South East and TCC Land. It is in the business empire of liquor tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has declared the buildings "off limits" for 30 days. Only authorised officials such as police officers from the Scientific Crime Detection Division and engineers from the BMA Public Works Department will be allowed access.
Police are investigating the cause of the fire, and engineers will have to decide whether the buildings will be safe for future use.
One of the blocks, Building A, is 51 storeys high, while the other, Building B, is 47 storeys.
"Should the buildings be declared safe, the owner must put greater emphasis on safety improvements during the renovations bearing in mind the safety of the general public passing by," Huai Khwang district office director Pavinee Armarttat said yesterday.
The road on which the buildings are located leads to the Thailand Cultural Centre.
During the fire, glass and pieces of material fell on nearby buildings and vehicles, damaging them.
BD Auto Company reported that falling material damaged 10 of its luxury cars, including BMWs and Jaguars.
Pavinee said part of one of the buildings was once a department store. However, due to economic problems, the store closed down and the two buildings changed hands a number of times.
The current owner is the TCC Land Group.
Last year, the group hired Ritta Company to renovate the buildings as part of a plan to create Cyber World Tower, which was due to open last month. However, renovation work had not been completed at the time the fire broke out yesterday.
Police have already questioned the company's engineer, Thammanan Chanapai, who first saw flames on the 15th floor of Building B shortly after 3am.
"I had been working on documents on the sixth floor, because we were going to hand over the completed renovations to the customer next Tuesday," Thammanan was quoted by police as saying.
"Around 3am, I felt too sleepy and decided to go home. On my way back to my car, I saw the flames and alerted security guards and also called the police."
Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, said around 50 firefighters were dispatched to scene.
"Anyone affected by the fire can lodge a complaint with the director of the Huai Khwang District Office," he said.
Bangkok Mass Transit Authority driver Manoon Charoonpradone complained to police that some valuables went missing from his house after he and his family ran for their lives when they saw the towers were on fire nearby.
"We forgot to lock our door when we ran out. When we returned, my wallet, some cash, wristwatch, clothes and documents were gone," he said.
Manoon said his neighbours also had valuables stolen.
Discuss
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