At least 14 people were killed in a fire at a nightclub near the tourist town of Pattaya (east) in Thailand this morning.
A new balance released by emergency teams reported one new fatality victim, after four women and 10 men, after 13 previously described.
Their ages ranged from 17 to 49, all from Thailand. “There are no strangers among the dead,” police lieutenant Colonel Boonsong Yingyong told AFP by phone.
In addition, about 40 people were injured in the fire, more than 10 of whom were in serious condition.
The incident occurred around 1:00 am (3:00 GMT on Thursday) at Mountain B club in Sattahip district near the coastal city of Pattaya, about 180 kilometers from the capital, Bangkok.
The fire was under control three hours later, a rescue team member from the Sawang Rojanathammasathan foundation told AFP.
Rescue teams said in a statement that the acoustic foam covering the walls facilitated the spread of flames to isolate the building from external noise and made it difficult for firefighters.
A video shows the burning building, where several people are trying to escape with their clothes engulfed in the thick black smoke.
In other images released by the Thai media, it is possible to see the burning interior of the nightclub, where the tables and chairs are on the ground. A few hours after the fire, the one-story building was inspected by engineers for fear that the roof would collapse.
– “Get out, get out!” –
“I got the impression that there was a short circuit behind the DJ and less than a minute later there was a power outage,” said Chalit Chotisupakarn, who managed to escape.
“I ran for the entrance. I couldn’t see anything, it was dark everywhere. Everyone was shouting, ‘Get out, get out,'” he added, one arm in a sling.
His mother told local media that one of the victims was the singer of the band playing at the club. “I don’t know what to say. Death came suddenly,” Premjai Sae-Oung told the media.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan O Cha said in the evening, “I asked the relevant institutions to investigate and expedite compensation and support for victims.” Said. He also advocated for tightening safety standards and highlighted the negative repercussions of this tragedy on the country’s tourist attraction abroad.
Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda told the media that Mount B was operating as an “unauthorized” entertainment venue.
Sompong Chingduang, deputy director of the Thai police, said the owner was registered as a restaurant and had not received permission from the authorities to function as a nightclub.
Inadequate health and safety measures in Thailand’s numerous bars and party houses have long been a cause for concern.
A fire at a New Year’s Eve party in Bangkok’s Santika club in 2009 killed 67 people and injured more than 200. More recently, in 2012, four people were killed in a fire at a club on the island of Phuket, which is one of the country’s most touristic destinations, as a result of a power outage.
source: Noticias
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