For the staff of local television station Channel 3, May 19 will go down in history as being the most dramatic, even more dramatic than its soap operas. Channel 3’s buildings were set ablaze by angry rioters a few hours after the red shirt leaders gave up their fight at Ratchaprasong.
Torched billboards outside the Channel 3 offices on Rama IV Road yesterday.
post photo
The TV station’s buildings on Rama IV Road are situated just a few hundred metres away from one of the main protest sites at Bon Kai.
The fire didn’t bring down the buildings, but it has caused enough damage to shake those in the perimeter, but for the staff trapped in the broadcasting building, it was a matter of life and death.
“When the smoke became more and more visible, I began to fear for my life,” said Kaneearch Dandumrongsuk, host of TV show Season Bunterng Sod and lead singer of Vacation.
“At first, I was just alarmed, but I wasn’t afraid because I knew that they didn’t want to harm us personally, and they just wanted to destroy the buildings,” he added.
Siwika Srisawat, a PR officer with BEC-Tero, who is usually stationed at the main building, was also on the 12th floor of the broadcasting building to promote a project.
During the third commercial break of Season Bunterng Sod taping, a journalist ran into the studio and announced that the rioters had reached the front of the building and had started burning tyres. Keeping calm, actors and camera crew continued taping the show.
“But I could feel that people began to panic a little. After the recording, we took a peek, and saw that they were burning the signs outside the building, and then everything [including cars] went up in flames.
“Thirty minutes later, smoke filled the room. We decided to join the rest of the staff on the 6th floor, and were scared to use the fire stairs in fear encountering rioters,” she said.
The crew made it to the 6th floor and took turns to use wet towels to cover their noses. Once they reached the executive floor they found that people in the main building had already been evacuated by helicopters. The broadcasting building has no helipad.
“I was scared because we were facing the unknown. They were burning the entire ground floor. We couldn’t even look out or open the windows to let the smoke out because they were shooting at us,” said Attakan Pimong, Puying Tung Puying’s (Woman to Woman) producer.
“My head was racing to find a way to stay safe. I was looking for hammers or anything that could break the glass doors as a way to get out if worse came to worst,” said Kaneearch.
The stranded made sure to conceal all airways to prevent smoke from entering the building.
“After about an hour, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was in contact,” Siwika said.
“He assured us that help was on the way and we should remain calm and be patient. The whole time I wanted to cry, but I felt like I had to be strong and take care of the younger ones.” Carla Porter, runner-up to last year’s Miss Thailand World and Channel 3 host, also suffered the same fate.
After everyone was rescued and made it out safely, Carla, was still disoriented.
Her Twitter post read: “I need help. I’m at Thonglor. No car. No cash.” Phongsak Bunauy was working in the office of Virgin-BEC/Tero Radio Thailand on the 23rd floor when he heard the sound of giant firecrackers and looked out to see a mob of 30 to 50 people approaching the Maleenont Building, vandalising parked cars and burning tyres.
Suddenly the lights went out, and Phongsak was soon in contact with the building management, as well as Prasan Maleenont, chairman of BEC/Tero Entertainment PCL, who was also on the premises.
“There were about 10 of us broadcast technicians in the office, since it was a holiday,” Phongsak said.
“We were told to go down to Basement 2 where we would be instructed on how to get out.
“But when we got to the ground floor, the mob was setting fire to the lobby, and we were trapped. So we went to the third floor to await further instructions.
“Soon we were told not to go down since the building was filled with smoke. Instead, we were instructed to go up to the roof where a helicopter evacuation was being arranged.” Up on the 38th floor, they met another group of people from other floors including [Puying Tung Puying presenter] Mesook Chaengmesook and [award-winning news anchor] Sorayuth Sutassanajinda.
Two helicopters took turns to take the evacuees to the 11th Infantry Regiment.
Today, Virgin Radio is broadcasting music from remote studios at Nong Kham and Radio Thailand.
Although there were no reported casualties, scars from the traumatic episode will remain for a lifetime.
“I want to know why they did what they did. I have a lot of questions,” said Siwika.
“It was a riot. It was arson. But it wasn’t a protest for democracy. This was not democracy.”
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