Major Fire Destroys Ground Floor at Banpaew Hospital
A fire destroyed the physical therapy center on the ground floor of Banpaew Hospital in Samut Sakhon on September 13, but all 40 mothers, newborns, and patients were evacuated safely with only minor injuries to two rescue workers.
A fire tore through the ground floor of the Commemoration Building at Banpaew Hospital in Samut Sakhon on September 13, 2026, at approximately 6 p.m., destroying roughly 90 percent of the physical therapy center. Emergency responders coordinated rapid response from fire trucks across Samut Sakhon and neighboring areas, along with ambulances and volunteer rescue units. All patients—including around 40 mothers and newborns from the third floor—were evacuated safely without serious injury, though two rescue workers sustained minor cuts from glass. Firefighting teams brought the blaze under control in about 40 minutes using water jets and air-pressure equipment to clear smoke from the building.
Deputy Interior Minister Jetsada Thaisetha arrived at the scene around 7 p.m. and inspected the damage, confirming the fire remained confined to the ground floor with no spread to upper levels. He assured that all patients were secure and that no additional injuries had occurred. Engineers and urban planners will assess the structural integrity of the building before determining its future use. The hospital has already begun notifying patients scheduled for the following day to reschedule appointments elsewhere. Provincial health officials have been directed to monitor the well-being of all hospital patients, while environmental and air-quality assessments are underway to evaluate public health impacts.
