CHONBURI, THAILAND – A 79-year-old Swiss man died in an early-morning fire at a row of rental rooms in Pong, which investigators believed was triggered by a discarded cigarette butt.
Fire in Pong in the early morning
The blaze broke out on 11 April at about 6:06 a.m. in a guesthouse on Moo 6, Soi Huay Yai Muk, in the Pong area. The affected building was a row of rental rooms popular with foreign residents, including many older people.
When emergency crews arrived, room 6 was engulfed in flames and thick smoke was spreading through the area. Firefighters brought the fire under control after around 30 minutes and prevented it from spreading to neighbouring rooms.
Emergency response and coordination on site
Police Lieutenant Colonel Damchaluay Samkanying from Nong Prue Police Station received the alert and informed his superior, Police Colonel Natthaphon Phongsooksakul. Fire crews from the disaster prevention unit of Pong municipality and volunteer rescuers from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya were dispatched to the scene.
Firefighters focused on containing the flames in the affected room and stopping them from moving along the row of units. At the same time, police secured the surrounding area for later evidence collection.
Victim: 79-year-old Swiss man in room 6
In the burned-out room, authorities found the body of a 79-year-old Swiss citizen with severe burns. He was discovered lying on his bed.
The man’s name was initially withheld in line with editorial practice until the embassy and relatives could be notified. The area was cordoned off as a crime scene while forensic specialists were called in.
Witness accounts: bedridden and smoking in bed
A 31-year-old Thai woman from a neighbouring room told police the man had lived alone and had been bedridden. She said he occasionally received support from caregivers who helped him.
She suspected a cigarette butt as the cause, as the man was reportedly known for smoking in bed and could not move independently. This information was included in the initial phase of the investigation.
Neighbour alerted rescue services
Another local resident, 41-year-old Somporn Makying, reported that she woke up to the smell of smoke and saw flames in the Swiss man’s room when she opened her door. She initially wanted to help but was forced back by the intense heat.
“I woke up because I smelled something burning and, when I opened the door, I saw flames in his room. I tried to help him, but the heat was too strong and I had to step back.”
said Somporn Makying, neighbour.
She then called out for help and contacted the emergency number. Her account highlighted how quickly the fire developed inside the room.
Investigation: cigarette butt seen as likely trigger
Investigators from Nong Prue Police Station documented the fire scene and worked with forensic officers from Chonburi Provincial Police, Region 2. Their aim was to establish the exact cause of the fire beyond doubt.
Preliminary findings indicated that a cigarette butt ignited materials in the room and the flames spread rapidly. The victim’s limited mobility apparently prevented him from escaping or attempting to extinguish the fire.
Next steps after the death
The body was taken to a local hospital for identification and further formalities. Afterwards, relatives were expected to take custody of the remains for a funeral in accordance with religious traditions.
In parallel, official procedures to notify the embassy and the family were under way. The investigation into the definitive cause of the fire continued.