Ekkamai pub fire kills nearly 60

[lomuamart]

What a tragic way to bring in The New Year. From today's Nation:


Fire at an Ekkamai pub kills at least 59 and injures scores in New Year countdown disaster

Fire broke out at popular Santika Pub in Ekkamai Soi 9 (Sukhumvit 63) Wednesday night, killing nearly 60 people celebrating the New Year countdown and injuring many others, police said.

TV Channel 7 reported that at least 59 people were killed and more than 200 injured.

TV footages showed the entire three-storey structure, which covered hundreds of squaremetres, on fire. Tearful revellers were being comforted by friends.

Firemen were alerted shortly after midnight but when they arrived at the three-story building, pandemonium was already breaking out with hundreds of people scrambling for their lives. Charity foundations' workers were trying to bring New Year celebrators out the narrow front door one by one.

A lot of people remained trapped inside the most popular pub in the area when the firemen arrived, screaming for help.

It took two hours to bring the blaze under control. Police said at least 54 people were killed and scores were injured.

It was believed hundreds were inside the popular pub. Some pub workers told police that the fire was likely caused by firework explosions which set alight the publ's interior which housed many inflammable materials.

One pub worker told reporters that the explosions were heard shortly after the New Year countdown ended. "After the explosions, someone shouted 'Fire!"," the pub worker said.

Fire started on the top floor and spread quckly, the pub worker said. The quick smoke caused immediate panic, sending people scrambling to the front door where they had come in. Most of them were unaware there were three other exits, the pub worker said.

The exact number of people injured remained unknown. Many have been sent to 14 hospitals including Ramkhamhaeng, Bangkok, Kluaynam Thai 2, Vipa-Ram hospitals.

The pub worker said up to 1,000 people could have been inside when the fire broke out.

One man, Somchai Frendi, who was inside the pub when the fire broke out, said the blaze was caused by a "special-effect" firework to usher in the New Year. It made the ceiling, which was made largely of inflammable sound-proof materials, catch fire which spread very quickly.

The fire and smoke sent people on the second floor scrambling downstairs while those on the ground floor also rushed for the door. But with most people knowing only one exit _ through which they had come in _ they crammed the space and the results were deadly.

The pub's promotion poster called the New Year Party "Goodbye Santika", apparently because the pub owner was planning to move to a new venue as the lease on the property could not be extended.

Those who died either suffered severe burns or were suffocated by smoke, police said.

[margaretcarnes]

Tragic news Lomu - will see if theres anything on Sky news. What a terrible start to 2009.

[margaretcarnes]

Its on BBC news here now. Absolutely terrible scenes of the fire totally engulfing the building. Fires in combustible ceiling material are (if I recall from Health and Safety days) the worst for rapid spread and smoke/fumes.
Its reported that the fire brigade arrived very quickly. Even so sadly too late for many poor souls.
Quite apart from the human tragedy its already clear that this is going to be another blow for Thailand, as the BBC has said that Bangkok has a poor fire safety record, and that the nightclub was popular with both Thais and touirists.

[crazy88]

Absolutely terrible and tragic . I have just watched the BBC news .Once again Johnathan Head has proved himself more suited to NOTW style sensationalist journalism than a news agency the world has always respected .

Crazy 88

[crazy88]

Many of us have friends and relatives in that area who will be difficult to contact this early on a new years day .I would expect clear,concise and sensative reporting,possibly with an emergency number for concerned parties ?

Crazy 88

[margaretcarnes]

The regular BBC news hasn't given a phone number out. Theres now a Youtube link on the Thaivisa forum, but I can't watch it all I'm afraid.

[margaretcarnes]

Yes its on Beeb again - Jonothan Head saying the fire will 'raise doubts about..Bangkoks rowdy and notoriously loosely regulated nightlife'
Well done Beeb.

[Terry]

Tragic indeed - I know that area quite well as I live in Phra Khanong when working in Bangkok.

Jonothan Head needs a severe dose of common sense - his sensational journalism does not do Thailand any good at all.

[Nereus]

Many of us have friends and relatives in that area who will be difficult to contact this early on a new years day .I would expect clear,concise and sensative reporting,possibly with an emergency number for concerned parties ?

Crazy 88

Tonglor Police Station may have a number: the Station number is:
02 390 2240-3

[crazy88]

Thanks Nereus

Crazy 88

[ozuncle]

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/p ... &return=ok

This link may be of assistance.

[cookmanchef]

Shocking tragedy! One of the things we all accept when choosing to live here are the the low safety standards I guess. A few baht in the right pocket and you get all the necessary certificates.

Was on a boat a few days ago, 100 people and about 30 life jackets. When you mention it to a Thai friend they just shrug and say not to talk about it!

[nevets]

I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY FIREWORKS HAVE BEEN SET OFF IN SIDE A CLUB THIS IS STUPID UNLESS THIS WAS THE OWNERS INTENSION AS HE IS MOVING AND IS WELL INSURED I EXPECT.

[Randy Cornhole]

I have just seen this story on the BBC news and it saddened me greatly. Very sad indeed...

[The understudy]

Hi there Y'all.

This is really sad news to hear on this Wonderfull new years day. I'd known this Club well cause it has a very uniqe Interior Design. Unfortnately for those Hi So Kids that frequent this Club and perished no one could warn them of this pending disaster.
BBC's Jonathan Head is really doing Thailand no favor of reporting negative news of Thailand!!!

Your's The understudy!!!!