Ageing bakery crumbles

A threestorey mansion partially collapsed early yesterday in Bangkok, prompting all 11 residents to run for their lives.

Three of them received minor injuries during their escape.

"I heard something like thunder at around 4am. Then everyone was screaming," said Jidapa Klomkeaw, 35.

"I live and work here," said Jidapa, a baker by trade who has rented the mansion for 11 years and currently pays Bt35,000 a month in rent. Her bakery workers live with her on the premises.

Crashing sound

Sansanee Inaram, a 22yearold worker, said she had to climb down from her bedroom on the third floor. "The crashing sound we heard was the cement wall falling apart," she said.

The panicked worker finally kicked through a glass door to escape.

Built in the European style, the mansion sprawls over 155 square wah in Bangkok's Wang Thonglang district and was dilapidated and riddled with cracks before its partial collapse yesterday.

District Office director Narathip Pattarawimon has ordered the mansion be roped off.