Brief fire in elevator shafts at Bangkok hotel

Brief fire in elevator shafts at Bangkok hotel

An electrical short circuit and fire put two elevators in a brief free fall before coming to a smoking halt at a 25-storey hotel on Bangkok’s Rama IX Road on Friday morning.

Panicking foreign tourists fled their rooms as smoke poured from the elevator shafts. Fortunately, the two lifts were empty at the time and no one was injured. 

Fire trucks and crews rushed to the Maxx Hotel in Huai Khwang district after Bang Kapi fire control was alerted that smoke was pouring out of two of the hotel's five elevator shafts, in the centre of the building, around 8.20am, Thai media reported. 

Elevator No 2 had stopped between the 16th and 17th floors and elevator No.3 had halted at the 24th floor. It was not known how far they had fallen.

Hotel staff used fire extinguishers to try and control the smoke. Firemen arrived soon after and brought the situation under control, 

Kittipong Chaiyasuwan, 51, of Golden Expressway Co, which opratos the hotel’s elevators, said there was an electrical short circuit at an elevator control system on the 25th floor. This caused two of the hotel’s five elevators to fall. The reports did not say how far.

He said the company would ensure that the elevator system was thoroughly examined and put back in good working order. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration sent officials to inspect the elevators.

(JS100@js100radio twitter)

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