BANGKOK: -- Residents of 20 shop houses on Ramkhamhaeng Road in Bang Kapi district fled for their life early Saturday morning when their buildings partially subsided.

The residents told city officials that their 3-storey houses on Soi Rakhamhaeng 58/4 developed loud noises at about 2 am and started to declined backward as it subsided.

The subsiding stopped at the buildings declined to the position about 15 degrees backwards, Bansophit Mekwichai, deputy Bangkok governor said.

The city administration declared the area dangerous zone and does not allow residents to go back inside the buildings.

Bansophit said officials put up temporary shelters for residents of the 20 shop houses pending an inspection by engineers whether the houses, which built 30 years ago, should demolished or not.

-- The Nation 2008-07-19