Dozens killed in Bangkok nightclub fire

[KoratCat]

Dozens killed in Bangkok nightclub fire

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- At least 59 people were killed in a fire that broke out early Thursday at one of Bangkok's most upscale nightclubs, where about 1,000 revelers were ringing in the new year, Thai police said.

Rescue officials work at the scene of the fire in Bangkok, Thailand.

The fire, at a club called Zantika, started at about 12:35 a.m. (1735 GMT), police told CNN.

The blaze started near a stage where fireworks were being used as part of a performance, according to authorities.
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Most of those who died in the building died from smoke inhalation or were trampled in a rush to get out of the club, they said.

The club is located in one of Bangkok's busiest commercial districts. Most of the fatality victims were Thai, but foreigners have been identified from Australia, the Netherlands, Nepal and Japan, police said.

CNN Jan. 1, 2009



As bad as it is, let's hope it was really an accident. I got bad memories of Bombs in Bangkok on New Years Eve two years ago.

[KoratCat]

Thai police to charge club owner over deadly fire

By DENIS D. GRAY

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — The owner of a Thai nightclub where at least 62 revelers perished in a New Year's Eve fire will face criminal charges over the blaze, which was likely sparked by a countdown fireworks display on the stage of the jammed nightspot, police said Sunday.

Wisuth Setsawat, a Thai-Chinese businessman, broke down in tears as he offered apologies to relatives of the victims Sunday before being questioned by police over the disaster at his Santika Club.

The fire raced through the two-story building with victims succumbing to the blaze, smoke inhalation and injuries from a stampede as hundreds of revelers tried to escape through a single main door.

Police Gen. Jongrak Jutanont said Sunday that Wisuth would be charged with carelessness leading to the deaths of others. He has already been charged with allowing in an underage customer, a 17-year-old high school student who was among the dead.

"More investigations will follow to pinpoint everyone who is responsible for this," the police officer told reporters, adding that more than 100 witnesses have already been interviewed.

Earlier, police said 13 people were to be questioned including Wisuth, managers of his White and Brothers Co., and staffers of a company hired to put on the countdown fireworks display on the stage of the Santika Club, which Jongrak said probably sparked the blaze.

The death toll rose by one to 62 on Sunday with 31 others in critical condition having sustained burns over 70 percent of their bodies, according to Narenthorn Emergency Center.

A total of 78 patients, including 47 in stable condition, were still being treated at Bangkok hospitals with 17 of them foreigners, the center said. One Singaporean was confirmed dead.

Police Col. Nithi Banthuwong, who is in charge of identifying the dead, said nine severely burned and disfigured bodies had yet to be identified.

Accompanied by his lawyer and friends, Wisuth reported to police Sunday afternoon after failing to show up at the station on Saturday. He denied fleeing, saying he has suffered from smoke inhalation after the fire started.

"I'd like to apologize to the relatives for the dead people and the injured," Wisuth said as he raised his palms in the traditional Thai prayer-like "wai" gesture. He broke into tears as he tried to continue talking to reporters.

According to his lawyer, the club's 31 business partners have decided to set up a fund to help those affected by the tragedy and some compensation had already been paid to relatives of 11 dead and injured victims.

The lawyer also confirmed that Santika has not renewed its fire insurance, which expired four months ago, and thus police could rule out any foul play related to insurance claims.

Mourners, including tourists and relatives of the Thai dead, have come to lay flowers at the parking area in front of the charred club. Buddhists among them lit incense sticks and chanted prayers for the repose of the souls of the departed.

Teenagers have also been coming to the club at night with cameras, hoping to capture ghosts in their photos. Belief in ghosts is widespread in Thailand, with some saying they can sometimes be seen on photos but not the naked eye.

Associated Press Jan. 4, 2009

[KoratCat]

SANTIKA PUB FIRE

Singer not a scapegoat for fire : deputy police chief

Police have rejected claims that the lead singer of a band was made to be a scapegoat for the Santika Club fire tragedy, which killed 66 people on New Year's Eve.

Deputy police chief Jongrak Juthanont denied yesterday that singer Saravuth Ariya from the band Burn had been unfair?y blamed for the disaster. He said arrest warrants issued by a court for all suspects were based on evidence and witness accounts.

Jongrak said last Friday he escorted the person who took a video clip before the fire to see the Justice Minister so the minister could ask questions and the witness confirmed that the singer lit a firework before the blaze took place.

He said the truth should be determined by the Criminal Court if police witnesses and video footage was credible and convincing. He said police took action against five suspects and had gathered evidence carefully so there was no scapegoat.

He said that police had not closed the case and were still gathering evidence.

Jongrak said he had learned about the club's security camera footage on January 30 and asked forensic chief Pornthip Rojanasunand for it to use in the case report but she refused.

Pornthip has said she refused to give the footage to police because the Justice Minister ordered her to do that, as it was proposed that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) should work on the case with police.

Jongrak said that police did not object to the fire probe becoming a special case involv?ing the DSI, as there were many other charges involved.

If the DSI takes over the case, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission is expected to take charge of the prosecution of negligent or cor?rupt government officials while the Narcotics Control Board will look at any drug offences linked to the case.

The Anti-Money Laundering Office is also expected to probe how Bt20 million was transferred to the pub's bank account and who was involved in the transaction.

Meanwhile, the father of fire victim Anusara Klisuk, 30, said he owed a Bangkok hospital Bt480,000 in medical bills.

Senior Sergeant Major Prakob Klisuk said Anusara was now treated for oxygen deprivation to the brain at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital courtesy of a universal health scheme card. He said his family had only received Bt10,000 from the club owner. He urged the owner to take more respon?sibility for the injured.

The Nation Feb. 4, 2009

Uh, that smell