A fire broke out in a luxury house in Nonthaburi, where two bodies were found inside along with nearly 30 cats that died from smoke inhalation. Initial checks found a large oil drum, and authorities are urgently investigating the cause.
At 00:10 on 17 Aug 2026, police from Bang Sri Muang Police Station received a report of a fire at a luxury house in a village in Bang Sri Muang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nonthaburi. They, along with Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers and four fire trucks from the Bang Sri Muang Municipality's disaster prevention and mitigation unit, rushed to the scene. After more than 30 minutes of water spraying, they managed to control the fire.
The scene is a two-story detached house in a large luxury village. The fire severely damaged the second floor. Two victims—a man and a woman—were found lying dead on a bed inside a room. A large oil drum and a charcoal brazier were found. Behind, there was a cat room housing about 30 cats of various breeds such as Persian and Scottish Fold, almost all of which died from smoke inhalation. Only two cats were rescued and survived. Neighbors reported the victims regularly traded cryptocurrency.
Jarm Lawtum, 45, a Ruamkatanyu firefighter, said he was notified of the fire and rushed to check the scene, initially unaware of any fatalities inside. Upon arrival, he sprayed water to prevent the fire from spreading but could not control it before it reached the bedroom. After discovering two deceased individuals inside, he climbed a ladder to inspect further and found a large oil drum. He tried to douse it with water but it exploded. Then he searched for cats inside—about 30 in total—in the rear cat room, which had a lit charcoal brazier and a locked bathroom door. The main bedroom suffered the worst fire damage, with the entire second floor destroyed. It took about 30 minutes to control the fire, during which a strong smell of oil was present.
Police are currently investigating the scene and have coordinated with forensic officers to conduct a thorough examination.
