54 die in nightclub fire in Bangkok

[llz]

The news has just hit the agencies ; happened in Santika Night Club in the Thonglo area.
Thailand just seems to be going through a rough period in these days.
RIP to all those who will never see more of the New Year.
News Link (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gyUMDHT6JxRa2gpBcfzqzvdnZ0wAD95DU54O0)

[lonelywombat]

Here is a later newsflash Video is available here
News Video (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7806658.stm)

I always get the feeling at DJ Station that if there were to be a fire there most would not survive

January 01, 2009 05:32am Thai time

AT least 59 people were killed when a fire ripped through a popular nightclub in the Thai capital early today as people were celebrating the new year.

The blaze broke out at the Santika club in Bangkok's Ekkamai district, a thronging entertainment area frequented by locals and tourists. It was not immediately clear if any foreigners were among the dead.

Local police commander Colonel Suphin Sapphuang said 59 people had been confirmed dead so far - 53 at the scene and six in hospital.

At least 184 people were injured, according to emergency service workers at the scene.

They were rushed to 14 hospitals around the capital suffering burns and smoke inhalation.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Prawit Kantwol said: "It appears that the fire started from the area of the stage where a band was playing. There were some pyrotechnics and it appears that they started the blaze.

"Most of the victims died from suffocation but some were also killed in a stampede when people were trying to get out."

The two-storey club, which is popular with Bangkok's elite, had a capacity of 1000 people but it was not clear how many were there at the time of the blaze.

A police officer at the scene who asked not to be identified said that there were still about 30 bodies inside the club which had not yet been recovered, although the fire was under control.

Almost all the dead were on the ground floor, where the stage was located.

An AFP correspondent said the nightclub had been completely gutted by the fire, which broke out between midnight and 1am (4am to 5am AEDT).

The front of the building was blackened and had collapsed, the correspondent said.

Several dozen relatives, friends and bystanders were left standing outside what was left of the venue, trying to get information about loved ones from the emergency services.

[Dani69]

R.I.P
Out thoughts are with you and your families. :pale:

DJ has a big front door, a fire exit in the back, and stairs to 2nd floor that leads to another building's exit.
The problem with Santika is there is only one door and people were trapped in the basement.

I always get the feeling at DJ Station that if there were to be a fire there most would not survive


DJ Station has improved its access considerably in the last few years - when was the last time you were there?
There are now 2 separate single doors for entrance/exit on the ground floor. On the next floor up there is a bridge across the soi to the bar area above Espresso that has a staicase to the ground floor and an openair area for smoking that is easily accessible to the ground. On the top floor of the main DJ building there is a fire exit with stairs leading down the back of the building. There is also another openair smoking area on the top floor that is separate from the main disco which could provide a safe area in case of fire.

9 nightclub in Silom soi 4 has a double door and a separate single door on the ground floor and a large openair smoking area on the next (top) floor which could be used for escape.

The new gay fire trap must be GOD in Silom soi 2/1 with only one entrance/exit; albeit with double doors.

[jolyjacktar]

God bless the poor souls

[travelerjim]

Here is You Tube video of the fire...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrZ56-47 ... 32984.html (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrZ56-47TWg&eurl=http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Fire-Santika-t232984.html)

So sad that this happened...it was preventable.

Same thing happened several years ago in USA night club...
fire started from fireworks on stage...setting flammable ceiling on fire...
killing many persons.

Damn the negligent fire officials and club management, ownership
for letting this happen!

Reports say the majority of dead are from other countries...
Japan, Nepal & Austria ....as well as Thais.

Report from the Nation:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/01 ... 092268.php (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/01/01/headlines/headlines_30092268.php)


SANTIKA PUB FIRE
POLICE: MANY VICTIMS WERE FOREIGNERS

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.

Deputy Police Commissioner-General Pol Lt-Gen Jongrak Juthanon said most of those killed
were foreigners. He said they were tourists from Nepal, Austria and Japan.

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

Sad...so sad!

tj

[travelerjim]

And now...here is what is being said:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... lice-chief (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30092271/Santika-Pub-catches-fire-just-one-day-before-its-closure:-police-chief)

Santika Pub catches fire just one day before its closure: police chief

Police Commissioner-General Pol Gen Phatcharawat Wongsuwan said
Thursday morning that the Santika Pub was hit by a fire that killed
59 people just one day before its last day of operation.

Phatcharawat said the pub was scheduled to operate on Thursday for the last day.

A fire broke out at the pub late Wednesday night, killing 59 and injuring over 200 others.

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

Again...sad...so sad!

tj

so sad, i have jut talked to by BS and he is at home I was scared,

[Sen Yai]

Same thing happened several years ago in USA night club...
fire started from fireworks on stage...setting flammable ceiling on fire...
killing many persons.

Damn the negligent fire officials and club management, ownership
for letting this happen!

No, damn the idiots who set off fire works on the stage. :angryfire:

As for the Santika Pub fire, it does sound like an insurance claim scam if it was really to close today.

As I walked around Pattaya last night I marvelled as I have before that there weren't serious accidents with the hundreds of fireworks that were being let off so carelessly. I watched a small boy on the beach lean over a rocket as he tried to light it. If it had gone off it would have launched him into orbit. But for sheer exhurberance the Thai's just can't be beaten.

Having got back to my hotel I was soon to learn of this tragic loss of life. So sad.

Congratulations to Thailand. They have made the world news again, particularly gory CNN here scenes in the frozen heart of America, next to Gaza bombings, and on New Year's morning. My sister in law's phones are ringing wondering if I heard the news or ever went there.

No one here knows about new government, but remember the Bangkok Airport Crisis of 2008.

That's NOT where I would have been had I been in BKK.

Fireworks are pretty scary. I was in India around Dewali timew this year and it all just went a little TTTTTOOOOFAAAR. I feel a bit safer here where they are a one time a year deal (in Canada).

A similar fire broke out a year or so ago in 999 Disco on Third Road, Pattaya, gutting the place and killing, as far as I can remember, 13. From what I am told, although I have never been so it is only second-hand, X-Ray Disco/Club in Pattaya sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

[lonelywombat]

I always get the feeling at DJ Station that if there were to be a fire there most would not survive


DJ Station has improved its access considerably in the last few years - when was the last time you were there?
There are now 2 separate single doors for entrance/exit on the ground floor. On the next floor up there is a bridge across the soi to the bar area above Espresso that has a staicase to the ground floor and an openair area for smoking that is easily accessible to the ground. On the top floor of the main DJ building there is a fire exit with stairs leading down the back of the building. There is also another openair smoking area on the top floor that is separate from the main disco which could provide a safe area in case of fire.

9 nightclub in Silom soi 4 has a double door and a separate single door on the ground floor and a large openair smoking area on the next (top) floor which could be used for escape.

The new gay fire trap must be GOD in Silom soi 2/1 with only one entrance/exit; albeit with double doors.

Doug at Tingtong has just posted a link to a photo rebuttal of what you say, that was posted on gayboythailand blog.
http://gayboythailand.com/bangkok-thail ... /#comments (http://gayboythailand.com/bangkok-thailand/dj-station-fire-safety/#comments)
travellerjim has just posted that in a new thread
fire-exits-at-dj-station-bangkok-report-pics-t16850.html (http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/fire-exits-at-dj-station-bangkok-report-pics-t16850.html)

The pics are alarming and so is the thought of what might happen if a fire broke out in either soi 2 or 4

I stand by my comment,

just posted a link to a photo rebuttal of what you say, that was posted on gayboythailand blog.
I stand by my comment,

That site has rebuttals to lots of things that people say!

This is for llz, the OP of this thread, and it may even make him consider dumping Thailand for the Philippines on future trips! You're right llz Thailand "seems to be going through a rough period in these days." Time for greener pastures. :cheers:

http://sites.younglife.org/sites/alaska ... %20Men.JPG (http://sites.younglife.org/sites/alaska/Home%20Page/Muscle%20Men.JPG)

It's run by an ex-member of this Board who was hounded off SGT. He doesn't follow the official line here on pedophilia which damns him in the eyes of all reasonable people (like me). He sometimes publicises photographers who glamorise teenagers. If you stick around and don't follow my views and those of people like me such as Khor tose you too will be attacked without mercy.

Ohhhhh thonglor55.... you are soooooo funny! You have me laughing so hard I nearly split a seam! Did you have to study to be so comical, or were you just born that way?

Anyway, I'll be at Corner Bar for the Obama inauguration, mainly to watch Rick Warren's speech. Why not stop by yourself so we could meet? Catawampuscat also expressed an interest in being there and why not bring your buddy Khor tose just to add to the fun? I have some Thai friends who would just love to have some fun with you guys too! :bounce:

Here's a photo that may be more to your taste:
http://johnphillipsphotography.com/CivR ... 965_RM.jpg (http://johnphillipsphotography.com/CivRITESrm/57_kkk_55_CAPITOL_1965_RM.jpg)

:salute:

[andrewcraig]

This is for llz, the OP of this thread, and it may even make him consider dumping Thailand for the Philippines on future trips! You're right llz Thailand "seems to be going through a rough period in these days." Time for greener pastures. :cheers:


What a sickie you are Andre if that is your original name From my experience in Manila they are just as bad if not worse

Maybe it would be good for the board if you take your own advice

Unsurprisingly the main responsibility for the fire has been laid at the door not of the owners but of the lead singer of the band "Burn" - http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... ntika-fire (http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/136026/police-charge-singer-for-santika-fire)

One has to wonder if the Deputy Chief of the CSD being one of the owners had anything to do with the inquiry's findings - http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1 ... ht-a-stake (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/10472/santika-left-alone-after-csd-officer-bought-a-stake)

The BBC is reporting that an investigation shows that the signatures of the building inspectors had been repeatedly forged, the club had avoided paying tax, and police raids on the club mysteriously stopped in 2005, right after an unnamed person was made a shareholder.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7865349.stm

Part of the latest editorial on the subject in the Bangkok Post reads as follows:

The really worrying factor is that Santika is not an isolated case but is reflective of normal practice here in Thailand. The culture of negligence and corruption has become dominant with public authorities, who have the power to "approve" or "grant" various permits and "enforce" the set rules and regulations. If you are rich and well-connected, you can get away with murder.

They could, almost, be talking about anything!

[thonglor55]

I thought all the farang staff had left the Bangkok Post. The editorial Gone Fishing quotes sounds like a bunch of geriatric ex-pats.. This isn't the West (thank God!). Things work a little differently here, and Western standards certainly don't apply - it only shows culture-centric ignorance.

The BBC is reporting that an investigation shows that the signatures of the building inspectors had been repeatedly forged, the club had avoided paying tax, and police raids on the club mysteriously stopped in 2005, right after an unnamed person was made a shareholder.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7865349.stm

When I sold my condo the land office rejected the papers the first time as it was the daughter of the condo manager who signed the document, (I had always assumed she was the manager), then it was rejected the second time as the condo manager signed his name in English and not Thai. I am not really sure what function my Thai lawyer served. Perhaps I should have hired a forger.

[Smiles]

" ... One has to wonder if the Deputy Chief of the CSD being one of the owners had anything to do with the inquiry's findings ... "
What do mean 'wonder'? Of course he does.

Cheers ...

I thought all the farang staff had left the Bangkok Post. The editorial Gone Fishing quotes sounds like a bunch of geriatric ex-pats.. This isn't the West (thank God!). Things work a little differently here, and Western standards certainly don't apply - it only shows culture-centric ignorance.

The article was written by Suranand Vejjajiva, a former cabinet minister and now a political analyst with the Bangkok Post. Strange name for a geriatric ex-pat showing his culture-centric ignorance.