| Santika Club Fire | |
|---|---|
 The ruins of the Santika Nightclub, taken three days after the event on January 4. |
|
| Location | Bangkok, Thailand [1] |
| Date | Between December 31, 2008 - January 1, 2009 |
| Ignition source | Fireworks or Electrical explosion (disputed, see article) |
| Fatalities | 66 (Thai report) |
The Santika Club fire occurred on January 1, 2009 (Thai report usually occurred on December 31, 2008) in the Santika Club nightclub in Watthana, Bangkok, Thailand near Thong Lo Road. 66 people were killed and 222 people were injured when fire broke out during the New Year's celebration while the band Burn were playing.[1][2][3] The fire took place just after the new year in Thailand,[4] at 12:35 a.m.[5] 35 foreigners from Australia, Belgium, Canada[6], France, Finland, Japan, Nepal, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States were among the injured.[2][4][7][5]
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Causes
No official cause for the fire has been announced by investigators. Many eyewitnesses suggested that the fire was caused by fireworks that lit a second-story ceiling on fire, or by sparklers inside the nightclub.[2] Other sources suggested an electrical explosion was at fault.[7] One eyewitness stated that there were no pyrotechnics in the club at all.[3] Another eyewitness reported seeing flames on the roof of the building after going outside to watch the midnight fireworks display. Video recordings of the indoor stage event, including the countdown, show that only sparklers were used. Furthermore, the fire only became visible indoors approximately 10 minutes after midnight. This strongly suggests that the fire originated inside the ceiling space or on the roof, allowing it to grow in intensity while going unnoticed for some time. Due to the tropical, wet climate and lax enforcement of building codes, tar paper and various plastics are often used as waterproofing materials.
About 1,000 people were in the club when it ignited, and the deaths occurred from smoke inhalation and burns, as well as a stampede.[3] Doctors later stated that fumes released from burning plastics could have caused many people to faint after mere minutes. The club only had one main exit, with an additional staff exit unknown to clubbers,[8] and a third door that was locked to prevent robberies.[9]
Aftermath
The injured were taken to 19 hospitals,[10] and most were brought to Bangkok Hospital.[7][10] Only 29 bodies of the 61 have been identified, 28 of which were Thais and the other a Singaporean.[8] The other bodies were wrapped in white cloth and put on the parking lot in front of the club,[2] and may take up to a week to identify because of extensive burns.[2] Pongsak Kasemsan, an official in Bangkok ordered a preliminary investigation, with results by January 4.[2]
A preliminary inspection of the club's safety system was called "substandard" by police Lieut. Gen. Jongrak Jutanont.[11] It was later revealed that the club only had one fire extinguisher, and that it was registered as a food vendor, thus was required by law to close at midnight.[9]
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva toured the damage at the club and said later, "The question is why they let someone take fireworks inside the pub and light them up."[2]
Charges
The owner of the Santika Club is to be charged along with twelve other directors over the disaster. The owner has already been charged with allowing an underage customer into the club after a 17-year-old student's body was recovered from the charred remnants of the club. He now faces further charges of carelessness resulting in death[12].
Investigations
Two parallel investigations were launched, one by the police and one by the Ministry of Justice. The police blamed the lead singer of Burn for setting off fireworks and the club owner for recklessness and for illegally admitting people under the age of 20. The Ministry of Justice investigation uncovered that the club was officially operating as a private residence and therefore had never received a fire safety inspection; it was located in a zone where nightclubs were banned and the city architect's signature approving the club's design was forged. Between 2004 and 2006 the police had filed 47 charges against the club's owners for illegal operation. Since that time however, no more charges were filed. Suspicions of police corruption were raised by the fact that one of the co-owners was a senior police officer. When the Ministry of Justice investigation was turned over to police in February, sources close to the Minister said that he was furious.[1]
References
- ^ a b Disturbing details in Thai blaze inquiry BBC News, 4 April 2009
- ^ a b c d e f g Gray, Denis D. (2009-01-01). "Fire at Bangkok nightclub kills 61, injures 200". AP. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gyUMDHT6JxRa2gpBcfzqzvdnZ0wAD95EEEM80. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ a b c Mydans, Seth (2009-01-01). "At Least 59 Die in Bangkok Club Fire". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/world/asia/02thai.html?ref=world. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ a b "New Year inferno at Bangkok nightclub kills at least 58". AFP. 2009-01-01. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gn3P36Ccgy8Az0ixaRITy6OX3Qqg. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ a b Young, Linda (2009-01-01). "Upscale Bangkok Nightclub Fire Kills 59 New Year's Revelers, Injures 200". AHN. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013584480. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ "Canadian confirmed dead in Bangkok nightclub fire". CBC. 2009-01-06. http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/01/06/fire-bangkok.html. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ a b c Schuettler, Darren (2009-01-01). "Bangkok fire kills at least 59 New Year clubbers". Reuters. http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE4BU4DN20090101. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ a b Bell, Thomas; Rayner, Gordon (2009-01-01). "Bangkok nightclub fire: British man saved by 'angel' who dragged him out". Telegraph.co.uk. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/4060542/Bangkok-nightclub-fire-British-man-saved-by-angel-who-dragged-him-out.html. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ a b Bell, Thomas (2009-01-02). "Bangkok: Blaze nightclub had no licence or safety measures". Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/4075439/Bangkok-Blaze-nightclub-had-no-licence-or-safety-measures.html. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- ^ a b "New Year inferno at Bangkok nightclub kills 58". Channel News Asia. 2009-01-01. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/399665/1/.html. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ "Bangkok nightclub fire kills 61 new year's revellers". CTV. 2009-01-01. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081231/bangkok_fire_090101/20090101?hub=CTVNewsAt11. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ "Bangkok nightclub owner to face charges over New Year's fire". Afrique en Ligne. 2009-01-04. http://www.afriquejet.com/news/international-news/bangkok-nightclub-owner-to-face-charges-over-new-year's-fire-2009010418767.html. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
External links
News related to New Year fire kills at least 59, injures 212 more at Bangkok pub at Wikinews
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