Two-storey rental building partially collapses, trapping tenant inside room

CHACHOENGSAO — 29 September 2026, A two-storey rental building partially collapsed in Mueang district, trapping a 28-year-old tenant inside his room after the building’s movement pressed the door frame shut.

Rescue workers from Chachoengsao were alerted at around 10:00 to the incident at a rental property in Khlong Na subdistrict and rushed to the scene.

The concrete building contains 20 rooms. Several large cracks were found along the lower walls, with particularly severe damage around Room 104. The staircase had also subsided, while the building was visibly leaning backward and to the right.

One tenant, identified as 28-year-old Kritsana (surname withheld), was trapped inside Room 104 after the building shifted and forced the door frame against the door, preventing it from opening.

The landlord used a hammer to break through the door and eventually freed Kritsana safely.

Meanwhile, another tenant, 30-year-old Panida (surname withheld), was left in tears after her Pomeranian dog remained inside another room. She was afraid to enter the building because of concerns that the weakened structure and beams could collapse.

The 58-year-old landlord, Sophonwit (surname withheld), later went upstairs with a worker and a key to retrieve the dog. They carefully entered the room and brought the Pomeranian downstairs safely.

Panida hugged and kissed her dog after it was returned to her.

The landlord’s 57-year-old wife, Saifon (surname withheld), said she heard the building creaking at around 08:00, followed by pieces of concrete and other materials falling.

She said residents later reported the incident in a group chat, prompting her to come and check the building. After learning that a tenant was trapped in Room 104, she asked her husband to use a hammer to break open the door.

The rental building was constructed in 2011 and has 20 rooms. Saifon said the area around the building had been flooded over the past two to three days. A pond is located behind the building and a canal runs alongside it, allowing water to enter the property when water levels rose before later receding.

Kritsana said he was still inside his room when he heard the building creak two or three times during the morning. When the building began to shift, he tried to leave but could not open the door, prompting him to call for help until the landlord arrived with a hammer.

Another resident, Thitaya (surname withheld), said Panida was her friend and had moved into the rental building temporarily two to three days earlier after fleeing flooding near the 11th Infantry Division area. She brought her Pomeranian with her.

Thitaya said she and Panida had gone to work at a factory when the building began to subside. After learning what had happened, they rushed back but could not enter their rooms. Panida became increasingly worried and cried because her dog was still inside.

The dog was later rescued by the landlord.

Reporters at the scene also heard the building creak another two or three times, with intervals of around 30–45 minutes between sounds. People in the area were warned to remain cautious and stay away from the building.

Khlong Na Subdistrict Administrative Organisation chief Pallop Chusawang and engineering officials conducted an initial inspection. Officials from the Chachoengsao Provincial Office of Public Works and Town & Country Planning are expected to conduct a detailed structural assessment to determine the building’s safety and what action should be taken.

All residents have been evacuated from the building. They left their belongings behind because of concerns that the structure could continue to subside or collapse.

Authorities are continuing to closely monitor the building as it remains structurally unstable, with cracks, subsidence and intermittent creaking still reported.