Thread: Dozens die in Bangkok Nightclub fire

Ceiling was covered in flammable materials, apparently, and then somebody set off fireworks indoors -- allegedly part of the celebration, but not sure. Conflicting reports.

"Oh, yeah. Oooh, ahhh, that's how it always starts. Then later there's running and screaming." --Dr. Ian Malcolm

Originally Posted by buriramboy

The misses just translated something for me on Thai Rath and she says it's saying it was farangs lighting fireworks in the bar.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

of course it was the farang fault, thai ppl NEVER that stoopid!

:angry:

1000 people ? I suppose then that only 59 is a low number...

At least 59 people, including a number of foreigners, died when a fire swept through a high-class nightclub jammed with as many as 1,000 New Year's revellers in the Thai capital, police at the scene say.

Police officers said about 130 others were injured when the blaze broke out shortly after midnight at the Santika Club in an entertainment area of Bangkok. Local press reports said 200 sustained injuries.

The officers, who declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the press, said the club was packed with about 1,000 people. Rescue workers said they believed other bodies were still inside the blaze-gutted building.

Police Gen Jongrak Jutanont said at least 59 people perished and that among the injured were nationals of Australia, Nepal, Japan and the Netherlands. Officials could not immediately provide more specific information.

very sad for those families involved
No smoking but fireworks!

Originally Posted by mediamanbkk

.

I have visions of out of date firetrucks and ambulances unable to get through the traffic (Thais drivers never seem to move over for them) and the total disregard of health and safety rules here.

Ive been to many fire stations in Bangkok and I must tell you that they have some very nice equipment and a huge amount of aerial appliances to deal with high rise fires.

The major problem is the arrival time of the first appliances, the fires are raging by the time they front up, the traffic is horrendous very rarely giving way to emergency vehicles and as you state the total lack of health and safety regulation to assist the punter until help arrives.

Its like they plan it out so the punter will surely die if a fire starts, they lock exits, cover windows with bars, have no back up lighting or evacuation signage. A recipe for the perfect disaster.

Our turnout time is 7 minutes max to any emergency, our fire stations are placed through out our city so this can be achieved, fire safety regulations are enforced by law and traffic always give way. Hence we hope to never have an incident like this happen, we have our large property fires but the loss of life is usually minimal and many times zero.


In Thailand this is not the norm, actually its the exact opposite, everything is stacked against the emergency workers so one cannot expect more because of total lack of regulations and this is exactly why I never enter these places.

Theres only one thing that was in the punters favor and that is the majority of them would of died from smoke inhalation before they where burned.

The only way to ensure ones safety in Thailand is to take all these things into consideration and way up whether you are willing to take this risk, much like driving over there, I consider this much more risky than going into clubs but I try and avoid both as I've experienced road trauma and massive fires in buildings.

Don't need to go there, I like to catch the train and do my drinking outside.

R.I.P to those poor people, nothing more terrifying in this world than to be stuck in a burning building.

Originally Posted by buriramboy

The misses just translated something for me on Thai Rath and she says it's saying it was farangs lighting fireworks in the bar.

Farangs.

It must have been the Farangs.


More bullsh*t from Thailand.

horrible, glad I didn't go anywhere last night

most of those clubs are scary,

Lucifer in Pattaya is one, but they have back exit

Tunnel is another but they have side exit,

The tragic thing is that history is destined to repeat itself in Bangkok. The laws are so incredibly lax, or never enforced. Human life is cheap, it appears.

Wonder what will happen to the club owner.

they need to sue the fire fighters company every time such an accident like this happens, and the city officials that approved the safety compliance, this would share the responsibilities with the owners, as it takes two to be corrupted

The government and city officials change that often, which ones would they sue, however I think you are on the right track and maybe it should be the insurance companies who should be putting the pressure on for the regulations to be enforced.

^ insurance companies ? not sure those guys even had insurance, but yeah, usually insurance companies ask for the safety regulations, or else they won't pay if something bad happens

I bet there were a few HiSo kids, so maybe the scandal will be big enough for some much needed changes

we can only hope,

Originally Posted by Butterfly

but yeah, usually insurance companies ask for the safety regulations, or else they won't pay if something bad happens

wouldn't be so sure.

they give me motorcycle insurance and i don't have a license.

I wonder if places like Q Bar and Bed Supper Club will carry out a review of their establishments? Lets hope so!

Fireworks lit for the New Year celebration probably torched the facility’s curtain near the roof, he said.

Bangkok Post : Dozens die in night club fire

Phatcharawat told TNN News Channel Thursday morning that forensic officials were still collecting evidences to establish the cause of the blaze that broke out at the Santika Pub on Soi Ekkamai 9 late Wednesday night

Police chief says forensic officials still checking cause of Santiak Pub fire - Nationmultimedia.com

Originally Posted by Butterfly

they need to sue the fire fighters company every time such an accident like this happens, and the city officials that approved the safety compliance, this would share the responsibilities with the owners, as it takes two to be corrupted

The firefighters try and do there best in a situation like this but Thailand being Thailand many also would be looking for booty , unfortunately I doubt they have the power to make and enforce the fire regulations.

In most countries this is implemented by the government in conjunction with fire authorities but this being Thailand we all know it would be near on impossible to enforce any fire related law because of blatant corruption.

The one place you will find highly enforced fire regulations will be the major hotels that are managed by foreigners as they are above the corruption and answerable to the company.

Unfortunately these fire fighters would be at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to enforcing any rules and for lowly paid firefighters tea money would be irresistible, same for the cops.

In other words any Thai run establishment would be able to negotiate tea money to bypass fire regulation.

Some do, some don't so its take your chances when entering these large clubs.

Fire fighters check inside Santika Pub in Ekkamai Soi 9 (Sukhumvit 63) after they put out the fire which killed 59 people early Thursday.

nationmultimedia.com

Bangkok nightclub fire kills 59, injures 130 - Yahoo! News


"Bodies, some of them probably alive, were falling off the stretchers as the rescue workers rushed them away. The flames were glowing through the broken glass windows. A part of the building had already collapsed," said Andrew Jones of England, who arrived at the scene shortly after the fire erupted.


Falling off stretchers??

Originally Posted by britmaveric

Another factor - life is cheap in SEA....

I agree.

And life is also cheap in the West.

Originally Posted by Milkman

And life is also cheap in the West.

Health and Safety standards don't even begin to compare though milkman.

The PM has just visited the scene, surely everyone should be kept out until the investigators have done their stuff and the building made safe? Terry57 I think you probably know the answers?

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Lucifer in Pattaya is one, but they have back exit

-Last time I had a look, the back exit was chained Butterfy.

Originally Posted by Milkman

And life is also cheap in the West.

The big difference being that when disaster strikes in the West its usually analyzed and plans are then put in place to try and stop it ever happening again.

In Thailand they just keep on keeping on doing nothing as life is worth nothing.

The Asian way of thinking up against the western way of thinking, the answer being, adapt to there way of thinking and be prepared for any outcome, go with there system and don't fight it as it could cost you your life.

Why does no-one question the wisdom of using fireworks & flames in a crowded nightclub?