NYE Nightclub Fire in Bangkok

[ramboz]

A fire broke out shortly after midnight in the Santika Club. 59 dead so far, many others taken to hospitals with various injuries caused by the stampede. Probable cause was firecrackers.

Police say the club had only one entrance/exit and most of those killed were in the basement area.

[thaibound]

http://news.yahoo.com/s....ub_fire

a terrible thing. and a fear i have had before while sitting in a nana club with fellow BM's discussing just such a potential no-exit disaster. i feel for all the victims, their friends and families, but i can't help but particularly hope that no BM's and none of the ladies we adore here were in attendance. here's the text of the article i saw in case the above link doesn't work:

BANGKOK, Thailand €“ A fire swept through a high class nightclub jammed with hundreds of New Year's revelers in the Thai capital, killing at least 54 people and injuring about 100, officials said early Thursday. Victims died from burns, smoke inhalation and injuries during the stampede to escape from the club, which had only one door for entry and exit, police Maj. Gen. Chokchai Deeprasertwit said.

He said that 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.

Police said 53 people people were confirmed dead at the club and another person died at a hospital. Workers counting bodies told The Associated Press that about 100 others were injured when the blaze broke out in the building, which has two stories and a basement.

The rescue workers said most of the bodies were found in the basement of the club, 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.

A video provided to AP Television News by one of the rescue workers showed bloodied, bruised and burned victims being dragged out of the burning club or managing to run through the door or shattered windows. Flames were racing through the entire building during the rescue operation.

Witnesses said several hundred people were inside the club when the blaze erupted.

One local Web site 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."

[EyeMahk]

I have been to this pub - about a month ago. It is frequented by twenty-something, hi-society Thais, high-profile people (i.e. people who want to be "seen"). WTF was I invited here. It is an expensive club (by Thai standards).

When I was there, it was packed and there were almost no other westerners that I noticed. A great rock band was playing when I was there, but I was told that late night crowd it is hip-hop.

It is a shame to read about this.

[Snick]

Wow, thats horrible - I've been there a few times and even mentioned to Monkeyman and others we should go sometime.

I've been flipping thru Thai TV channels for 30 minutes and there has been NO coverage of this.

[seanbeag7]

well here in Ireland Skynews and Euronews have shown plenty of pictures about it .

[Guest]

I just saw on the news that there was a terrible fire at a Bkk nightclub on NYE and 59 people were dead and numerous others were injured in the stampede to get out. Any more information from the locals?

[Guest]

I jus looked it up and it is near the Ekkamai Bus Station on Soi 63 (Ekkamai)

[katoeylover]

Topics Merged

[sukhumvitpoler]

When i saw a quick clip of it on the news i thought "SHIT I HOPE THAT ISNT NANA PLAZA"

[laputanegra]

oh my effin god! i been to that club by accident, nice club but didnt stayed long as its kinda far from my place. anyways res in peace to all the casualties.

[Tomcat]

To be frankly honest , im surprised that this doesnt happen more often what with the combination of fireworks , braindeads, substandard electrical wiring and lack of respect for building fire regulations ( one assumes they are buried somewhere)..some premises are accidents waiting to happen.

I am not complaining, just realistic, as this is part and parcel, as i see it, of the "This is Thailand" outlook that most probably accept as a trade off against some of the benefits ( Like letting a greenhorn  loose with a day hire 900CC Honda Superbike ).

One supposes that checking the fire exits is the last thing one thinks about arriving at a night club half pissed . Does anyone honestly check this?

I read some where that most Japanese will not stay above the 9th floor as this is supposedly the reach of the average firewagon ladder...

[Guest]

I've been there three times in total and once this trip, always an enjoyable experience.
Luckily for me last night I went to Spicy Club (near MBK) as my after hours choice of venue following the Guess Bar NYE gig

[mardhi]

There is no legal requirement for fire exits in any building, least of all in a nightclub that wont even have a licence. Thinking about it, I cant think of a single nightclub I have been in which has emergency exits.

The fact that there is no requirement for emergency exits makes me think twice about visiting many venues - prime worst case scenarios are Lucifers and Marine Disco in Walking Street Pattaya - they each have 1 entry/exit point and in Lucifers case, its even worse as its all of 90cm wide through a 7m long corridor - just imagine a bottleneck if that place went up. Marine Disco is better but you have to use a regular size escalator to get back down to street level which is just as bad a bottleneck in the event of an emergency. Tunnel in BKK is similar - 1 main door and thats it.

To Tomcats point - does anyone think of this - the answer is yes I do - I am always very aware of it I wont go in Lucifers for that exact reason - the others I would but I tend to be very aware of my surroundings (and access to the sole exit point) at all times, no matter what state I am in.

Cheers
Mardhi

[Sparetire]

(mardhi @ Jan. 01 2009,06:40) Lucifers and Marine Disco in Walking Street Pattaya - they each have 1 entry/exit point and in Lucifers case, its even worse as its all of 90cm wide through a 7m long corridor - just imagine a bottleneck if that place went up. * * *
* * I wont go in Lucifers for that exact reason

Although I'm no great fan of Lucifers due to that shity hip hop muzic, it does have at least one (possibly two) fire exit at the rear of the building which is clearly marked

You were missed last night by the way mardhi

[mardhi]

(pentire @ Jan. 01 2009,11:54) Although I'm no great fan of Lucifers due to that shity hip hop muzic, it does have at least one (possibly two) fire exit at the rear of the building which is clearly marked

You were missed last night by the way mardhi  

Ever given a though where such an emergency exit might go from the back of Lucifers? Answer = The sea & rocks as its built out on piers (wooden no doubt) as one of the illegal Walking Street venues. Having said that, even if they are in place, I would have zero confidence that they are chained locked throughout the entire time the club is open.

Reminds me of the time when Lucifers was raided by the police about 3 years ago - absolute mayhem broke out and many people ended up having to be taken to Hospital as people panicked and surged the single exit - lots got trampled and that was not even a fire and/or smoke causing the problems. That is one serious death trap I am afraid to say.

Cheers
Mardhi