ID :
123331
Fri, 05/21/2010 - 11:49
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http://m.oananews.org//node/123331
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Thai capital calm; City Hall speeds-up survey of risk-prone gutted buildings
BANGKOK, May 21 (TNA) – The Thai capital on Friday morning was calm after its second night under curfew from 9pm until 5 am. A rapid-response unit of motorcycle-mounted troops were patrolling key Bangkok streets from dusk until dawn, particularly in Ratchaprasong, the former main protest camp, to ensure that no violence erupts.
As smoke still smoldered from the basement of gutted high-end shopping
mall CentralWorld in the heart of Bangkok, the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration (BMAl) is conducting surveys on 28 buildings in 36 spots set ablaze by outraged protesters, according to a senior BMA
administrator.
BMA spokesman Thanon Ornkatephol said City Hall ordered the Public Works Department to conduct surveys on structural damage of those buildings.
After the survey, it will declare danger zones for the buildings facing risk of collapse.
The spokesman said the BMA will speed rehabilitation work as well as
mental health relief for Bangkok residents.
Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) spokesman Col
Sansern Kaewkamnerd said there had been 39 arsons including shopping
malls, stock exchange, banks, gold shops, a hotel, government offices and convenience stores.
Among those buildings under attack is the CentralWorld, Thailand's biggest shopping mall and the second largest in the region where smoke still billowing as the fire at the basement has not been put out.
Firefighters cannot reach the site due to risk of collapse. However, they use water to prevent the fire from spreading.
Officials at fire-gutted Center One, a department store of 300 shops,
estimated damage of at least Bt1 billion (about US$31 million) and said about 1,000 people were now unemployed.
Meanwhile, more than 400 people flocked to Chulalongkorn Hospital on
Friday morning, the first day of reopening in full operation after being closed for safety concerns due to the anti-government protest
at nearby area in Rajdamri and Saladaeng.
The six-week demonstration ended after most protest leaders surrendered to the police during the military operation to retake the protest site in this business and high end shopping street.
Chulalongkorn Hospital earlier this month evacuated patients to other
hospitals following a surprise raid by protesters on suspicions that armed soldiers were staying inside the hospital building and were preparing to disperse the protesters. However, no soldiers were found.
The Erawan Emergency Centre reports death toll stands at 52, 15 of them on Wednesday and Thursday, plus 406 persons injured in clashes
between protesters and troops since May 14.
Fifteen people remain in hospital while 231 others returned home. (TNA)
As smoke still smoldered from the basement of gutted high-end shopping
mall CentralWorld in the heart of Bangkok, the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration (BMAl) is conducting surveys on 28 buildings in 36 spots set ablaze by outraged protesters, according to a senior BMA
administrator.
BMA spokesman Thanon Ornkatephol said City Hall ordered the Public Works Department to conduct surveys on structural damage of those buildings.
After the survey, it will declare danger zones for the buildings facing risk of collapse.
The spokesman said the BMA will speed rehabilitation work as well as
mental health relief for Bangkok residents.
Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) spokesman Col
Sansern Kaewkamnerd said there had been 39 arsons including shopping
malls, stock exchange, banks, gold shops, a hotel, government offices and convenience stores.
Among those buildings under attack is the CentralWorld, Thailand's biggest shopping mall and the second largest in the region where smoke still billowing as the fire at the basement has not been put out.
Firefighters cannot reach the site due to risk of collapse. However, they use water to prevent the fire from spreading.
Officials at fire-gutted Center One, a department store of 300 shops,
estimated damage of at least Bt1 billion (about US$31 million) and said about 1,000 people were now unemployed.
Meanwhile, more than 400 people flocked to Chulalongkorn Hospital on
Friday morning, the first day of reopening in full operation after being closed for safety concerns due to the anti-government protest
at nearby area in Rajdamri and Saladaeng.
The six-week demonstration ended after most protest leaders surrendered to the police during the military operation to retake the protest site in this business and high end shopping street.
Chulalongkorn Hospital earlier this month evacuated patients to other
hospitals following a surprise raid by protesters on suspicions that armed soldiers were staying inside the hospital building and were preparing to disperse the protesters. However, no soldiers were found.
The Erawan Emergency Centre reports death toll stands at 52, 15 of them on Wednesday and Thursday, plus 406 persons injured in clashes
between protesters and troops since May 14.
Fifteen people remain in hospital while 231 others returned home. (TNA)
