Officials from the Engineering Institute of Thailand and the Public Works Department will examine the building of Major Pinklao shopping mall on Saturday to ascertain the extent of damages caused by a huge fire on Thursday and how they are to be maintained.
EIT secretary-general Associate Professor Siriwat Chaichana said that maintenance of the damaged building might take about four months and he suggested the owner of the building to find their own inspector and contractor to undertake the repairs.
From initial assessment, he said that the building’s foundation, supporting pillars and structure were not affected by the fire which caused parts of the roof on the 4th floor to cave in while the ceilings of the 3rd and 4th floors cracked from the fire.
He expected city officials to issue an order declaring the building off-limits for public safety until repairs are completed and ready for reopening. Unauthorised removal of any parts of the damaged building should be prohibited, he said.
The fire was put under control about two hours after it started. No one was injured however.
