Electrical explosion In Pattaya 8 killed 54 Injured UPDATE

[Smiles]

Route 99 North Pattaya Disco has had a very big expolsion just now, as I was passing, I see flames every where as its burning to the ground. I was told 8 known to be dead so far??? may be Electrical Fire ..... More News as it comes in...when it comes on TV or news Web sites.
Well perhaps it is best for everyone to wait and see and discover some real truths before breathless postings.

Now you write this: " ... NOT A BOMB some people will do anything to get attention ... " (and I assume you mean American Teacher's post) but I do recall that in your first message about this incident you wrote that 40 people were killed.
So that's now been edited down (twice) to a probably more realistic 8. You've also edited your original Subject line to take out the larger figure.


... you should do like I do, always check your information before you post it to the world. Irresponsible I call it ... "
Indeed.


I think that American Teacher was simply posting his message out of visceral horror at what happened. He probably wanted to do this as quickly as possible and in his haste reported 'developing' news, not 'final' news.
You did the exact same thing ... i.e. with errors. In that light, you accusing someone else of being irresponsible is, eh, IMHO, bloody stupid,

Cheers ...

[lonelywombat]

Pattaya disco fire kills 7
A fire hit an entertainment complex in North Pattaya last night killing at least seven people and injuring at least 49 bar-goers. Police said most of the people killed and injured at Route 999 entertainment complex were Thai customers and staff who were caught off guard when the fire started about 8.15pm, shortly after the place opened for business.

The blaze apparently started from the DJ room inside a discotheque in the complex, police said, but they still could not tell what caused it.

Police said many customers were already inside the complex and the staff were attending a routine briefing when the fire started.

Bodies of the victims were sent to Bang Lamung hospital while the injured were sent to a few other hospitals by relief volunteers. Police said they believed more people could be trapped inside the disco but firemen have yet to enter the building for fear the structure might collapse.

Route 999 entertainment complex is on Pattaya 3 road in North Pattaya. The complex is made up of a pub, a disco and a go-go bar covering an area of about 1,000 square metres.

Perhaps this is a difference between the different Englishes we speak and write, but when I'm told a building is burning to the ground (as was reported by a certain accuracy-nitpicking individual in two separate threads), I would expect to NOT see the walls standing. However, the photos at http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_07_05_49.htm, seem to clearly show the structure rather intact after the fire.

[American Teacher-old]

I think that American Teacher was simply posting his message out of visceral horror at what happened. He probably wanted to do this as quickly as possible and in his haste reported 'developing' news, not 'final' news.
You did the exact same thing ... i.e. with errors. In that light, you accusing someone else of being irresponsible is, eh, IMHO, bloody stupid,

Cheers ...

Thank you Smiles. That is exactly right. The reason for the posting was to find out more information, as it had just happened. I had done extensive web searches, but as of last night couldn't find anything. I find it quite rich that "Let Me Bore You" of all people would lecture others on disseminating information correctly. Christ, he spews forth more verbal diarrhea than anyone I've ever met.

Regardless, I apologize if I "jumped the gun," and I have modified my title and text in that string.

Fondly,
Chris

[bkkguy]

can we assume LMTU that you picked up your language skills, political astuteness and sense of style, wit and subtlety at the same skool as Niddy acquired his cooking skills?

bkkguy

[wowpow]

Pattaya disco fire kills 7
"A fire hit an entertainment complex in North Pattaya last night killing at least seven people and injuring at least 49 bar-goers. Police said most of the people killed and injured at Route 999 entertainment complex were Thai customers and staff who were caught off guard when the fire started about 8.15pm, shortly after the place opened for business.

The blaze apparently started from the DJ room inside a discotheque in the complex, police said, but they still could not tell what caused it. Police said many customers were already inside the complex and the staff were attending a routine briefing when the fire started. Bodies of the victims were sent to Bang Lamung hospital while the injured were sent to a few other hospitals by relief volunteers. Police said they believed more people could be trapped inside the disco but firemen have yet to enter the building for fear the structure might collapse.

Route 999 entertainment complex is on Pattaya 3 road in North Pattaya. The complex is made up of a pub, a disco and a go-go bar covering an area of about 1,000 square metres. "

Bangkok Post, 8th May 2006

This is a very bad tragedy with at least 7 deaths. Am I the only one who finds the inhouse bickering inappropriate?


_________________

Pattaya disco fire kills 7

This is a very bad tragedy with at least 7 deaths. Am I the only one who finds the inhouse bickering inappropriate?______

You are not alone.

But when you have posters like LMTU who in his first post gives sensationlised misinformation and then edits his original post after other have responded to make it appear that he had the true fact all along it is little wonder that bickering occurs.

The word' bomb' and a number in the region of 40 dead were in LMTU's original text yet he feels it appropriate to crticise others for what he consider inaccuracies.

Deft editing only indicates that he had little information of substance when he first posted.

[Doug]

First, I am saddened by the needless loss of life and the suffering of the survivors. I think many of us can say, "There, but for 'chock dee', go I".

Second, it amazes me that these many years after the Jomtien hotel fire and the many complaints about places like central Big C and the movie theatres, that doors are locked and insufficient emergency exits provided. I have looked into several entertainment places located on the upper floors but left because of a fear of being trapped in an emergency. I hope this will result in regular uncorrupted safety inspections but I'm not holding my breath.

Third, I love the internet because of the immediacy and passion of the information. But I am fully aware the this is the internet and all information must be taken with a grain of salt - or maybe a box. Both LMTU and American Teacher related what they knew and heard and I appreciate both their efforts.

And finally, TeePee, I agree totally that the petty bickering, which the authors may see a humour, becomes annoying very quickly. Some topics are started with the primary aim of creating such battles of wits and slurs. All well and good and I can get a chuckle out of these. But this topic was not one of those. It does seem like every topic, regardless subject matter, quickly decends into tripe. Then again, this is the internet and TIT.

[wowpow]

Bangkok Post, Tuesday 9th May 2006
Nightspot defied closure order - Illegally modified before fatal blaze
JERDSAK SAENGTHONGCHAROEN

Pattaya _ The Route 999 entertainment complex destroyed by fire on Sunday night had been illegally modified and used in defiance of a ban, city officials said yesterday. Pattaya Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn said the city had banned use of the building, initially constructed as a restaurant, in December. Authorities had warned the complex's owner to obey the order, but nothing else had been done. The owner and manager has been identified as Wicha Baopimpa.

After the Sunday night blaze which killed eight people and injured 57 others, several seriously, the mayor promised strict structural and fire inspections of all entertainment venues and buildings. City Hall yesterday declared Route 999 off limits after an initial inspection determined the building was on the verge of collapse and was a danger to the public. Officials said the building structure's will again be inspected and a decision made whether to order demolition.

Police believe an electrician's carelessness was the cause of the fire which caused an estimated 70 million baht damage. Police said electrician Khanueng Phaolek, 29, had used welding equipment to repair air-conditioning units and sparks set a carpet on fire which quickly spread. Mr Khanueng's charred body was found at the scene amid the debris.

Meanwhile, Potjanee Thanavaranit, chief of the Insurance Department, said Route 999 was not insured under the fire insurance law that took effect on Feb 19. The law requires fire insurance of at least 100,000 baht on all public buildings. Ms Potjanee said the provincial insurance office told her Route 999's owner had contacted Viriya Insurance Co for fire coverage, but no contract had been yet signed.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Nation , Tuesday 9th May 2006
Eight staff burn to death in pub blaze. Police are certain careless work by an air-conditioning mechanic caused a blaze at a popular pub in Pattaya which killed eight staff on Sunday.

Officers are inspecting whether the building was modified to meet safety standards and whether any fire exits were provided. Route 999, right in the heart of Pattaya, caught fire on Sunday night while more than 100 staff were having a meeting before opening for business.

The fire killed five dancers and three male staff including the air-conditioner mechanic, Kamnung Phaolek, and injured 57 others. Nutcharin Wongyam, 25, said 80 dancers called coyote girls who dressed in the style of dancers from a movie of the same name, were in the pub at the time. She said she was in the dressing room and heard the sound of an explosion in the ceiling. A fire broke out and spread rapidly. Many staff escaped through the front gate but some were trapped inside.

Some of them were helped out by rescuers who broke through a wall but others choked on the smoke and lost consciousness. Fire fighters took about an hour to control the fire.

Police officers led by Police Region 2 Commissioner Lt-General Jongrak Juthanon, yesterday inspected the scene with civic officials and continued to search for more bodies, but no more have been found. The police estimated the damage at about Bt20 million. Jong-rak said from initial investigation, the pub's mechanic, Kamnung, who was fixing air-conditioners, had accidentally fallen, causing a gas tank in the ceiling to ignite and explode. Route 999 is a 12-metre-high building on three rai of land. It was modified last December at a cost of about Bt50 million. The pub had become popular with both Thais and foreigners and received around 300-500 visitors a day.

Pattaya mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn said the building was declared a hazard as it had been feared it might collapse. He said before the pub was opened, the building was found to have been illegally modified. Officials had ordered work on it to stop and revised plans submitted, but the pub owner ignored their orders. "We are checking to see whether the pub had provided standard emergency exits," Nirun said. Officials said most pubs in Pattaya only had an entrance and no fire escape.

In this case, most of the deaths involved new staff who were unfamiliar with the building so they failed to find the right escape routes. Officers will inspect the building and consider whether it needed to be demolished. Nirun said he would order an inspection of other entertainment spots to prevent further incidents and take legal action against any pub flouting the law.

The building was condemned back in December and ordered to close. Five months later many die and are injured in a fire. How much 'tea money' was being paid to allow it to stay open. How could a building illegally open and having 3 - 500 customers a day keep it quiet? How could the owners flout the law for so long and get away with it? I don't expect to see any censure taken against those whose job it was to enforce the closure.

[lonelywombat]

Club dancer tells of lucky escape, rear doors locked

A dancer yesterday revealed the details of her narrow escape from death in a fire in Pattaya's Route 999 nightclub, where eight of her co-workers died and more than 50 people were injured on Sunday night.

Police, meanwhile, will summon the club's owner for questioning tomorrow after finding that two of the back doors to the building were locked from the outside, preventing those inside from escaping.

Dancer Porntip Thamthaisong, 22, who had been working at the club for two months for Bt500 per night, said she was dressing backstage when the power was cut and someone screamed: "The place is on fire!", prompting her and 80 others to stampede toward the exits.

"It was very hot and the smoke was so thick we couldn't see anything, and some of us started to choke," she said. "Five minutes later, the wall was knocked down by rescuers, who saved us."

Porntip said other club employees passed out in the backstage room and died before help arrived.

The club had two rear entrances, one where drinks were delivered and the other to serve the kitchen but on the night both were locked from the outside, she said.

Rescue teams were delayed for vital moments because they were forced to cut their way through the locks before they could help the victims escape.

Porntip said she believed there would have been fewer deaths and injuries if those attempting to escape had been able to open the doors. She said she would leave her job and return to her home in Bangkok because of the tragedy.

An air-conditioning mechanic's welding torch reportedly sparked the blaze. The mechanic was among those killed.

Police inspector Major Phumpat Namputthara said 20 witnesses had been summonsed so far and police would inspect the fire scene and investigate the locked back doors.

If the club failed to measure up to security requirements, police would take legal action against the owner, he said.

Deputy superintendent Lt-Colonel Chonpat Nawarat said police would gather evidence about the building's compliance with the law and summon Route 999 owner Wicha Baopimpa for questioning tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Pattaya City Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn issued an order to seal the club off as a fire zone to prevent anyone from tampering with evidence before the inspection to determine if the building was illegally modified, in breach of the Building Control Act.

The Nation

Chon Buri

Question: How could the owners flout the law for so long and get away with it?Answer: This Is Thailand. Undoubtedly someone was being paid off

[bigben]

It is so sad this crap is allowed to happen. Yes, allowed to happen.

Least we forget we are all in this THIRD world. As pleasant and appealing it is to live in Thailand, it is a shame and disgrace to Thailand that innocent people die and are injured in situations that could be avoided if the officials and owners were held accountable.

Sure there will be an investagation i.e a dog and pony show for a few weeks, but when it is all said and done, things won't change. All will remain the same as far as peoples health and safety is concerned.

We all really need to say a small prayer for all those involved and be thankful we (us readers)are still ok.

I never really think seriously about moving elsewhere but things like this tend to make me reconsider my retirement in the LOS.

Sorry for the typos...I couldn't get the spell check to work today.

It is so sad this crap is allowed to happen. Yes, allowed to happen.


As in the hotel (Name?) fire at Jomtien: rear door locked and chained. The owner walked away, the building engineer took the rap.
Here; they have a, conveniently, dead man to blame. (Can they, somehow, hang the locked back door on him too--And operating in a condemned building?)
Wait and see.

[Aunty]

It is so sad this crap is allowed to happen. Yes, allowed to happen.

Least we forget we are all in this THIRD world. As pleasant and appealing it is to live in Thailand, it is a shame and disgrace to Thailand that innocent people die and are injured in situations that could be avoided if the officials and owners were held accountable.

Sure there will be an investagation i.e a dog and pony show for a few weeks, but when it is all said and done, things won't change. All will remain the same as far as peoples health and safety is concerned.

We all really need to say a small prayer for all those involved and be thankful we (us readers)are still ok.

I never really think seriously about moving elsewhere but things like this tend to make me reconsider my retirement in the LOS.

Sorry for the typos...I couldn't get the spell check to work today.


Sshhh, none of that matters dude, just so long as you don't say the 'B' word.

A sad sidenote to the tragedy was the caption to a Bangkok Post photo showing some of the "coyote girls" (as they were called ... what *is* a coyote girl?) at their lockers. All the locker doors were open and the caption said that all their valuables were missing and only a few items remained. How pathetic is that? It's like robbing highway accident victims as they lay dying on the road side...

[Surfcrest]

It is so sad this crap is allowed to happen. Yes, allowed to happen.


Sorry for the typos...I couldn't get the spell check to work today.

Try typing your post in "Word" with the spell check on and then cut & paste it to post a reply.

I recall a few years back, the Palapa style restaurant at The Alcazar went up in flames.
The restaurant vanished in munutes.
A few weeks back I was sitting on the deck at Cafe' Royale looking at the dried palms hanging down from the eves, wondering "who considered that decorative?"
Or sitting in Classic Boys in Bangkok where they squirt lighter fluid all along the front of the stage, a few feet from the wooden bleachers. Or how about that fancy curtain the goes around the stage at X-Boys combined with the guy the pours lighter fluid on himself, or the dancers that light up four aerosol cans (oblivious to the curtain hanging only inches away).
Thank goodness the exit is so big and easy to get to.....
....almost makes me appreciate all the regulations we have back home...

Surfcrest

[lonelywombat]

I was in DJ several years ago over Xmas, and tried the fire door on the second floor to let some fresh air in

It was locked

I decided to leave and it took 15minutes or more to reach the outside.

The potential for hundreds of casulties if a fire occurred at DJ is probably no different to most if not all discos in LOS

Go there AYOR.

[jimnbkk]

This sort of thing happens in the good old US of A too. Remember the nightclub fire in February 2003 in West Warwick Rhode Island? Well the guy that caused it (inadvertently) was sentenced today. The article on msnbc:

Biechele was the tour manager for heavy metal band Great White when on Feb. 20, 2003, he lit a pyrotechnics display that ignited highly flammable foam that lined the walls and ceiling of The Station nightclub in West Warwick. The foam was used as soundproofing and was placed there by the owners after neighbors complained about noise from the club.

Many of the 100 people who were killed that night either were quickly overcome by fumes emitted by the foam or became trapped in a crush at the front door.

More than 200 others were injured in the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history, and the worst fire in state history.

"Stuff happens......"

[wowpow]

BBC News 11th May 2006, posted 6hrs 19 minutes ago

A former rock band manager has been jailed for four years over a nightclub blaze which killed 100 people. Daniel Biechele had pleaded guilty to manslaughter for organising the pyrotechnics which triggered the fire.

The display lit highly flammable foam lining the walls and ceiling covering The Station Club in Rhode Island during a concert by the band Great White. Fans found it difficult to escape the February 2003 fire because two emergency exits were defective. One emergency door was hidden by foam and another opened the wrong way.

In August 2003 the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) imposed a fine of $7,000 (┬г4,800) on the band and another fine of $85,200 (┬г59,000) on the nightclub owners, Derco LLC.

The band's guitarist Ty Longley was among those killed in the fire.

Biechele could have received a sentence of as much as 10 years after he struck a deal with prosecutors in February of this year.


Minutes after the display began the club was engulfed by flames

"The greatest sentence that can be imposed upon you, has been imposed upon you by yourself," Superior Court Judge Francis Darigan Jr said as he pronounced sentence.

There were audible sobs from the families of those killed as the sentence was handed down. Many of them has given emotional testimony in the past few days on the loss of their loved ones.

In court Biechele spoke for the first time in public about the tragedy.

Crying and repeatedly apologising he said: "Know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who have lost loved ones have endured.

"I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anyone else to. I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way.