Two people suffered minor injuries, according to Bangkok Emergency Medical Service.

According to police, the fire broke out in the seventh theatre on the fourth floor of the Cineplex shortly before noon and spread fast because of the presence of flammable materials. The fire then engulfed seven of 13 theatres, causing a part of the four-storey structure to collapse. It took the firemen more than an hour to put out the flames.

Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-General Sanit Mahathavorn said police would set up an investigation team to examine the cause of the fire in cooperation with the Bang Phlat District Office, which will inspect the structure and extension.

“The fire destroyed the old part of the cinema and the back of the building has collapsed. For now, we have three hypotheses for the cause of the fire – arson, unintentional activity or accident. We will carefully investigate the case to ensure everything is clear,” Sanit said.

Governor visits site

“I’m glad that nobody was seriously hurt and want to thank everybody for working hard to put out the fire.”

He added that people would be punished if the cineplex had been illegally modified.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra also visited the site to inspect operations. He said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s engineering team was going to check the building’s structure.

Sukhumbhand said authorities were unsure how much the fire had affected the building’s structure, which would have to be closed for an inspection to make sure that it is safe to be reopened.

BMA Public Work Department director Prasarn Phitakworarat said that initial inspection showed that the cineplex had been extended, but it had obtained a permit from the BMA.

The cinema was built in 1995 as a three-storey building and an additional level was added in 2005.

Meanwhile, Major Cineplex Group has issued a statement online to apologise for the inconvenience caused by the fire, adding that moviegoers who had bought tickets could use them at Major Cineplex Central Pinklao instead.