Forensic police and city building inspectors entered the severely damaged Major Cineplex Pinklao building on Friday and began evaluating the damage and cause of the huge fire on Thursday.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration officials and police examined the inside and outside of the severely damaged multi-storey building on Boromratchonnanee road in Bang Phlad district on Friday.
They were concerned not only about the damage but about the safety of the remaining structure.
Only one person from each shop inside the complex was allowed to accompany them, to examine what was left of their stock and other assets.
Thaiwut Khankaew, head of the Public Works Department's Building Control Division, said afterwards the the roof structure was buckled by the fire and severe damage was found on the fourth floor, where there were several cinema theatres. Other theatres were on the floor below.
Bang Phlad police chief Pol Col Atthaporn Wongsiripreeda told INN that forensic officers had collected samples and other evidence from inside and outside the premises for use in the investigation. Statements would also be taken from witnesses.
Experts from the Engineering Institue of Thailand will inspect the building on Saturday. Evaluation of the damage would take about a week, the BMA said.
The blaze started at cinema No.8 on the third floor about 11.30am on Thursday and firefighters took more than two hours to put it out.
The building is still off-limits.
The blaze pushed the Major Cineplex Group stock down 2.16% to close at 34 baht on Thursday. It rebounded to 34.50 baht in afternoon trading on Friday.