Thailand- Belgium Bridge temporarily closed after fire

BANGKOK, February 28 (TNA) - The Thai-Belgiun Bridge on Rama IV Road in Bangkok has been closed temporarily, both its inbound and outbound traffic, following a fire that broke out at garbage bins beneath the bridge. The fire broke out around 7am on Tuesday at a section of the bridge in front of the Lumpini Park, causing a traffic disruption before firefighters could put it under control within less than an hour. The bridge’s structure has been damaged by the heavy blaze and remains closed to traffic. An official investigation is under way to determine the cause of the fire, but it was initially believed that the blaze could have been caused by a careless toss of cigarette by a motorist. The damaged site below the bridge is an enclosed area used to store new plastic garbage bins of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). Police Lieutenant Colonel Jessada Khumsattra, Deputy Commander for Traffic of Thung Mahamek Police Station, told journalists, after talks with BMA officials, that the outbound traffic lane of the bridge is likely to be closed for a month for repair, while the damage on its inbound lane is being assessed by engineers prior to a public notice shortly. (TNA)