NONTHABURI, Thailand – A power bank reportedly exploded while charging, sparking a fire at a luxury home in Pak Kret early Thursday and killing seven cats trapped in a cage outside the house.
The fire broke out at around 3 a.m. on August 14 at a two-storey detached house in a large residential estate in Bang Talat, Pak Kret district. Pak Kret Municipality and nearby authorities dispatched 10 water trucks to battle the blaze, which took more than 30 minutes to bring under control.
Police from Pak Kret Police Station said the fire started in the living room on the ground floor before spreading to a cat enclosure at the front of the house. Seven of 10 cats were killed, while three survived. Initial inquiries indicated that the homeowner had left a power bank charging unattended before it reportedly exploded and ignited the fire. The house sustained significant damage.
A 31-year-old neighboring resident, identified as Ms Ploy, said she heard screaming and the sound of breaking glass at around 2 a.m. When she went outside, she saw the neighboring house on fire.
She initially thought the blaze was coming from another part of the housing estate. She tried to help by finding a fire extinguisher and contacted firefighters to alert them to the emergency. Police are investigating the incident and have coordinated with forensic officers to conduct a detailed examination of the property to determine the exact cause of the fire.
