An air-conditioning compressor explosion is being blamed for a fire that destroyed the Max Muay Thai Pattaya boxing stadium, causing 200 million baht in damage.
Authorities were called to the Sukhumvit Soi 42 sports arena around 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18 to find the one-story building fully engulfed. Bystanders stated that the fire had started near the back of the building but had quickly spread.
It took 10 fire trucks more than an hour to extinguish the flames. The facility was closed to the public at the time, but four employees including a manager suffered slight burns and smoke inhalation.
An air-conditioning compressor explosion is being blamed for a fire that destroyed the Max Muay Thai Pattaya boxing stadium, causing 200 million baht in damage.
The entire building except for a small part of the façade and metal structures were completely destroyed by the fire.
Company director Nawat Thaochareonsuk told police that a team of electricians had serviced the air conditioning earlier that afternoon and that a loud bang was heard. He assumed that a compressor had exploded, starting the fire.
Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, who was at the scene, said there was no concrete information as to what actually caused the fire, but said that the priority was to ensure that the area was cordoned off were fears the remains of the building could collapse.
The Max Muay Thai Stadium was constructed for 200 million baht and opened in November 2014 under the management of Nawat and Piyachart Srichan as managing partners.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
