Police examine mansion destroyed by fire in Thailand
Investigators were today examining the charred remains of a $64m dollar mansion damaged by fire.
The Baan Sukhawadee building near the tourist resort of Pattaya, eastern Thailand, had opened again to the public after Covid-19 restrictions were eased yesterday (July 1).
But staff at the sprawling sea-front mansion - packed with priceless oriental antiques and relics - heard ''an explosion'' and noticed flames shortly after 10am.
The inferno engulfed the top of the building with thick clouds of black smoke rising into the sky which were visible for miles around.
More than 10 fire trucks rushed to the inferno and they brought the flames under control later in the afternoon.
Officials who visited the building today (July 2) said the remains were unstable because of the damage sustained in the blaze. They were also checking that the materials used conformed with building regulations.
Speaking yesterday, the building caretaker Wichian Chamsai said his colleagues heard an loud explosion before the fire broke out.
He said: "I was working in the building when one of my colleagues shouted to me telling that he heard an explosion.
"Then I also saw a spark from the back of the building before we evacuated as quickly as we could. It sounded like an electrical problem caused the fire."
According to local media, the damage suffered by the building already more than 400 million baht (13 million USD).
The Baan Sukhawadee mansion and its content are reportedly insured for more than two billion Thai baht (64.6million USD).
The mansion was built by a Thai billionaire Dr. Panya Choititawan and is used for Buddhist religious ceremonies, tourism and hosting events.
The fire came just months after officials ordered it to be demolished for allegedly encroaching onto public land. Government officers ruled it was built partly on 1.76 hectares of public land and ordered it to be demolished.
Dr. Panya Choititawan, the owner and a billionaire poultry exporter, had re-opened the building to the paying public today following the further relaxation of coronavirus lockdown measures.
Thailand's tourism industry has been decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic with international tourists banned since March 22 and no date currently set for visitors to be allowed to return.