A vendor at Klong Thom Center tearfully opened up about her shop’s losses worth millions. She has endured floods, earthquakes, and COVID-19, but this fire was the most severe, leaving her with nothing. She appeals for urgent government relief to sustain her livelihood.
On 29 Aug 2026, a major fire broke out inside Klong Thom Center, causing severe damage to longtime vendors who have been in business for decades.
Our news team interviewed two affected business owners: Ms. Kanjana, 38, owner of an electrical equipment shop, and Ms. Wasana, 45, operator of a car care and automotive accessories store. Both were visibly shaken and said this incident left them utterly devastated.
Ms. Kanjana and Ms. Wasana tearfully revealed that despite having survived numerous hardships—including floods, earthquakes, and the near-fatal COVID-19 crisis—they managed to recover. However, this fire was the most catastrophic event of their lives.
""I can only say we lost everything. Our lives are ruined. The economy was already bad, and this just makes it unbearable. I really can’t accept it,""Ms. Kanjana said.
Both have been selling goods at Klong Thom Center for over 10 years, dating back to when the area had no roof, no air conditioning, and no fans. They endured selling under the hot open air until gradual improvements were made. This place has become everything to them and their families’ main source of income.
Preliminary damage assessments show Ms. Kanjana’s large shop, which sells all types of electrical equipment including solar cells, spotlights, LED signs, and inverters, suffered losses estimated at no less than 3-4 million baht, with individual product prices ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of baht.
Meanwhile, Ms. Wasana and neighboring shops also suffered losses in the millions, with all their merchandise destroyed by the fire, leaving only the empty premises.
On the night of the fire, both said they had left for home around 5 p.m., when the mall was starting to close. Their shops usually closed last. They only learned about the fire afterward and hesitated to return immediately, knowing there was probably nothing left. Seeing the smoky remains and ash smell the next day brought them to their knees, unable to face the devastation.
When asked about the fire’s cause, Ms. Kanjana said the origin was about 6-8 stalls away on the first floor. As an electrical equipment seller, she is well aware of the dangers and risks related to electrical systems, so she always exercised caution. She installed circuit breakers and always switched off the power before closing, ensuring no plugs or transformers were left connected.
Both Ms. Kanjana and Ms. Wasana said that with the current difficult economic conditions—where some days they barely break even and others make no sales at all—losing all their inventory and shops means they have no capital left. Relocating elsewhere would be very difficult because Klong Thom is their traditional, well-known marketplace with a customer base of both Thais and foreigners. Starting over in an unfamiliar place would feel like a death sentence.
In closing, both pleaded for sympathy from government agencies and relevant parties to step in with aid and expedite relief measures, so victims can at least receive new capital to sustain their livelihoods and rebuild their families’ futures.