18 Schoolgirls Killed in Fire

[GLCQuantum]

Tragic.





Photos of the Thai boarding school where 18 girls died in a fire reveal the trail of destruction the inferno left.
Charred debris litters the floors and smoke blackened walls show where flames blazed out of the windows of the Pitakiatwittaya School in the Wiang Pa Pao district of Chiang Rai in northern Thailand on Sunday night at around 11pm.
Eighteen schoolgirls, aged five to 12, had been asleep when the blaze ripped through the building and died after becoming trapped in their second-storey dormitory.
Twenty others were rescued through windows by fire fighters who had propped ladders up against the building.

Continued... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -fire.html

[pharvey]

Absolutely dreadful.......

[StevePIraq]

Terrible, where were the children's supervisors? Why no fire alarm system? I know this is Thailand but that is no excuse.

I remember when I was on school camps there was always an adult in a separate room to the children's dorm. Even if we made too much noise they would be out like a shot.

[oakdale160]

I dont think that the girls were from important Bangkok Hiso families, so sad but nothing needs to be done.

[Siani]

Tragic, so sad

[centermid7]

Terrible, where were the children's supervisors? Why no fire alarm system? I know this is Thailand but that is no excuse.

I remember when I was on school camps there was always an adult in a separate room to the children's dorm. Even if we made too much noise they would be out like a shot.

Those first two questions suggest that you must be new to Thailand. Your comment suggests that you were in a country where someone really cared.

Alas!

[Vital Spark]

I was told by my Thai colleague (reading a Thai news site) that the exit doors were locked from the outside (padlocks??). And you can imagine the amount of flammable mattresses, duvets and other cheap furnishings in the rooms that would've contributed to the acrid fumes. Poor young things - they didn't have a chance.

VS

[kendo]

Disgusting lack of care the teachers should be held acceptable for this tragedy. They were probably eating Somtam and drinking Whisky som nom na but this is by any standards is tragic and heartbreaking.

[PeteC]

Here is an update:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 86583.html

[StevePIraq]

Terrible, where were the children's supervisors? Why no fire alarm system? I know this is Thailand but that is no excuse.

I remember when I was on school camps there was always an adult in a separate room to the children's dorm. Even if we made too much noise they would be out like a shot.

Those first two questions suggest that you must be new to Thailand. Your comment suggests that you were in a country where someone really cared.

Alas!

I have been here 8 years on and off, I will not stay here 100% of my time. There are building codes in Thailand and they may not have been enforced.

As I have said in other threads Thailand is not as poor as many other countries but it is far less developed than many of those poorer countries.

[StevePIraq]

Here is an update:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 86583.html

What bollocks, fluorescent tubes do not melt they are made of glass.

[GLCQuantum]

I dont think that the girls were from important Bangkok Hiso families, so sad but nothing needs to be done.

This never-ending cliche always bugs me. Just because of a few major incidents (regarding the wealthy) that made the news, some people believe it's the norm that only the Bangkok Elite get any sort of justice, closure or reprieve for incidents concerning them.

Terrible, where were the children's supervisors? Why no fire alarm system? I know this is Thailand but that is no excuse.

Those first two questions suggest that you must be new to Thailand. Your comment suggests that you were in a country where someone really cared.
Alas!

And your comment suggests that you understand very little about the topic in question. The Thai education system is beyond pathetic but leaving little kids alone unsupervised is not something I've witnessed. I have worked in boarding schools (currently am now) and English camps for over 12 years and NEVER have young children been left unsupervised at any time. Where I work now there are, at least, two supervisors in the kid's dorm room's all hours of the day. That's normal. This tragic incident is abnormal.

So StevePIraq's questions are quite valid questions to ask (Yes...even in Thailand).

A tragic incident like this is not just brushed under the carpet.

[centermid7]

^ your personal experiences have nothing to do with it.

"Never" ya say? The headline kinda makes you look silly. Good try though.

Cheers!

[GLCQuantum]

^ Reading is obviously not your strong point.

[Spitfire]

Such a sad story....and some reports say these people are beyond the reach of the government which is why they are taken care of by charities etc.....such BS....beyond the will of the government to help more like.