Post by Cullyn Of Cerrmor on Jan 1, 2009 9:50:01 GMT 9.5
59 dead in Bangkok club blaze
January 1, 2009 - 8:35AM
A blaze has ripped through a Bangkok nightclub, top, leaving scores dead, bottom.
Pictures: AP
At least 59 New Year's revellers died when a fire swept through a packed nightclub in the Thai capital, police said on Thursday.
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Do you know more? Are in Bangkok? Message 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764) or email us with information or images.
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At least 184 people were injured and had been taken to 14 hospitals around the capital suffering burns and smoke inhalation, emergency service workers said.
Local police commander Colonel Suphin Sapphuang said 59 people had been confirmed dead so far - 53 at the club and six who died later in hospital.
Police Major General Chokchai Deeprasertwit said the fire may have been caused by firecrackers brought into the Santika Club by guests or sparks flying from a New Year's countdown display on the nightclub stage.
The police officer said 53 bodies had been counted at the club and another person died at a hospital.
He said death came through burns, smoke inhalation and injuries during the stampede to escape from the club, which had only one door for entry and exit.
The rescue workers said most of the bodies were found in the basement of the club, which has two storeys and which attracts a well-heeled crowd of Thais and foreigners. The corpses, placed in white body bags, were laid out in rows in the parking lot in front of the club.
One of the partygoers, an Indian national residing in Thailand who gave his name as Lucky, estimated that the club was jammed with 700 to 800 people.
Australian Ralph Davidson, who lives a few minutes away from the club, said he heard fire trucks about 1.15am local time.
Local media had said special effects had gone wrong, leading to the fire, Mr Davidson told smh.com.au.
He said the area near the club was very affluent, with many middle-class clientele.
"It's very likely some Westerners would have been there tonight and the children of well-to-do families," he told.
"It's pretty shocking to me as a local/expat - hopefully none of my friends were there tonight. Very sad.''
One local website about the entertainment scene in Bangkok described the club as attracting "an affluent Thai student crowd, with Euro models and Westerners also popping in" with a "whisky-sipping crowd all focused on a large stage".
Another site says that the high ceiling and a cross in the main room makes one feel "like walking into a church".
Sirens wailed through the night as rescue workers raced to the fire.
AP, AFP and Arjun Ramachandran
January 1, 2009 - 8:35AM
A blaze has ripped through a Bangkok nightclub, top, leaving scores dead, bottom.
Pictures: AP
At least 59 New Year's revellers died when a fire swept through a packed nightclub in the Thai capital, police said on Thursday.
---------------
Do you know more? Are in Bangkok? Message 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764) or email us with information or images.
---------------
At least 184 people were injured and had been taken to 14 hospitals around the capital suffering burns and smoke inhalation, emergency service workers said.
Local police commander Colonel Suphin Sapphuang said 59 people had been confirmed dead so far - 53 at the club and six who died later in hospital.
Police Major General Chokchai Deeprasertwit said the fire may have been caused by firecrackers brought into the Santika Club by guests or sparks flying from a New Year's countdown display on the nightclub stage.
The police officer said 53 bodies had been counted at the club and another person died at a hospital.
He said death came through burns, smoke inhalation and injuries during the stampede to escape from the club, which had only one door for entry and exit.
The rescue workers said most of the bodies were found in the basement of the club, which has two storeys and which attracts a well-heeled crowd of Thais and foreigners. The corpses, placed in white body bags, were laid out in rows in the parking lot in front of the club.
One of the partygoers, an Indian national residing in Thailand who gave his name as Lucky, estimated that the club was jammed with 700 to 800 people.
Australian Ralph Davidson, who lives a few minutes away from the club, said he heard fire trucks about 1.15am local time.
Local media had said special effects had gone wrong, leading to the fire, Mr Davidson told smh.com.au.
He said the area near the club was very affluent, with many middle-class clientele.
"It's very likely some Westerners would have been there tonight and the children of well-to-do families," he told.
"It's pretty shocking to me as a local/expat - hopefully none of my friends were there tonight. Very sad.''
One local website about the entertainment scene in Bangkok described the club as attracting "an affluent Thai student crowd, with Euro models and Westerners also popping in" with a "whisky-sipping crowd all focused on a large stage".
Another site says that the high ceiling and a cross in the main room makes one feel "like walking into a church".
Sirens wailed through the night as rescue workers raced to the fire.
AP, AFP and Arjun Ramachandran