Bung Kum District Office’s Public Works division chief Chukiat Cherdchom said the building, constructed since 1979, had been in flames for over two hours and developed significant cracks on the second and third floors, hence it will have to be demolished. Nearby residents have been evacuated temporarily for their safety.

The BMA governor’s adviser Wanlop Suwandee said the fire fighters were unable to rescue the five people who were trapped in the building because the fire had spread quickly from the ground to the upper levels and the windows on the third floor were inaccessible due to metal grills. He said the site has been declared dangerous and is awaiting inspection by BMA Public Works and the Engineering Institute of Thailand.

Though police are still investigating the cause of fire, city police chief Sanit Mahathavorn revealed that it is suspected the pre-dawn fire stemmed from an accident as the building housed a car accessories business and that the residents had no conflicts with others.

The deceased were identified as Jamras Thongchaiwattana-ampol, his wife Sarinthip Sutthipongchaikul, their one-year-old twin daughters Saranya and Saranda and Jamras’s mother Pattara Thongchaiwattana-ampol. The other five relatives who were also staying in the building managed to escape.

A witness said that Jamras had actually made it out safely but lost his life after running back into the burning building to try and rescue his wife, mother and daughters.