Many killed in Chon Buri pub fire

[reader]

NOTE -- The number of dead 1s reported between 13 and 17 by various news agencies.

From Pattaya Mail

A late-night fight at a Sattahip nightclub killed 17 people and injured about 40, several of them underage teenagers.

The inferno at the Mountain B Pub on Sukhumvit Road in Sattahip District began near the ceiling, which was covered in highly flammable soundproofing foam. A rear-exit was locked, leaving only one way out the firetrap. Videos showed people fleeing the building, their bodies on fire.

Nine men and four women died in the fire, including three minors not legally allowed to be in the bar. The victims were identified only by their first names as Kornwit, 17; Promporn, 18; Watinee, 19; Warakul, 32; Somrat, 31;, Surakan, 35; Natthida, 28; Jetsadaporn, 20; Wiriya, 31, Rangsiman, 30; Chatchai, 30, Nuttakorn, 49, and Sawitta, 39.

Witnesses said they heard two explosions near the DJ booth as the three-rai entertainment complex with only one entrance and saw sparks that ignited the soundproofing foam. The flames spread quickly from there.

Twenty fire engines from around the area responded to the blaze in the Plutaluang Subdistrict. Firefighters spent two hours battling the flames. Once the fire was out, they found 13 charred bodies inside, some dead from the fire, some from smoke inhalation or being trampled.

Mountain B opened only a month ago and was popular with youths in the East with management obviously paying little heed to checking ID cards to ensure everyone was over age 20.

The fire there shows how little has changed in Thailand’s nightclubs since the Santika nightclub fire in Bangkok on New Year’s Eve 2008. Sixty-six people died and more than 200 others were injured in that blaze that was supposed to prompt improved fire safety and inspection in the country’s bars, pubs and nightclubs.

Many of those injured suffered severe burns.

[PeterRS]

How dreadful! The more so considering how young some of the deceased were. Even at this early stage it seems perfectly clear that the fire department - or whichever one is responsible for ensuring fire regulations about materials used inside public premises meet fire safety standards - completely failed in their duty as far as granting premises a license to operate is concerned. Anyone who has been in the entertainment business knows only too well that cheap insulation material can be highly flammable. Sadly TIT! 

As has been said before, the fear for the gay community must continue to be Silom Soi 2. If there is a fire in DJ Station or any of the other venues in that soi, its tiny entrance is certain to cause panic if large numbers are trying to get out. It will be worse if, as was discovered some years ago, DJ Station's one back exit was padlocked shut!

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

15 now dead in Chon Buri pub blaze, fire exits all locked from the outside

While the death toll from the fire in the Chon Buri pub early Friday morning has increased to 15 today (Saturday), Suvadee Suetrong, a representative of the Mountain B pub’s owner, claims that there were three fire exits, but she didn’t know that they had all been locked from the outside, as she insisted that the proprietor is ready to compensate relatives of the dead and injured.

The pub, which is located on the Bang Na-Trat highway in Sattahip district of Chon Buri, caught fire during the early hours of Friday, initially killing 13 customers and injuring dozens in one of Thailand’s deadliest night venue fires. The pub was found to have been illegally modified, operating beyond permitted hours and with only one way in and out.

Two more of the seriously injured were pronounced dead yesterday and today.

Suvadee claimed that the owner, whom she did not name, was in the pub at the time of the fire and he, as well as other employees, had tried to help customers to get out of the burning pub.

The five officers transferred to the special operations centre of Chon Buri provincial police are the superintendent, Pol Col Wuttipong Somjai, his two deputies, Pol Lt-Col Somsak Ruying and Pol Lt-Col Torwong Sakkulawong, Pol Maj Somaya Chusukphonyiam, the inspector for crime suppression, and Pol Lt-Col Yutthana Songkrasant, the inspector of investigations.

The abrupt transfers are believed to be a punishment for their alleged failures, by allowing the Mountain B pub to operate beyond midnight.

On the same day, the district chief officer of Sattahip district, Chatchai Sripoon, was moved to the Institute of Administration Development under the Provincial Administration Department.

She added that all of them had reported to Phlu Ta Luang police station.

Regarding the three exits, Suvadee said that new customers were unaware of them, as she insisted that all three exits were normally unlocked and that she does not understand why they were locked from the outside that night.

Suvadee admitted that she had no idea that the pub did not have the required permissions, because she was not responsible for that matter, adding that there is only one owner.

The premises were divided into a restaurant, a bar-b-q restaurant and the pub.

The bodies of 14 of the victims are being kept at the Central Police Forensic Science Division at the Police General Hospital for autopsy, which will take up to 2 days to complete, after which their relatives can claim them for their funerals.

Relatives of some of the victims gathered in front of the damaged pub this morning to perform a religious ritual to bless the souls of the dead.

Meanwhile, yesterday, Pol Maj-Gen Attasit Kitjaharn, commander of Chon Buri provincial police, ordered the immediate transfer of five senior police officers attached to the Phlu Ta Luang police station over the deadly fire.

 

[reader]

Bangkok shutters 83 pubs after fire safety inspections

From The Nation

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said he had ordered inspections of entertainment venues in every district of the capital.

Eighty-three of the 400 Bangkok venues inspected have been shuttered after inspectors found problems with fire exits and escape routes.

Chadchart, an engineer by profession, said escape routes should be obvious and clearly signposted to aid victims’ chance of survival in dangerous situations.

He ordered further inspections in a bid to weed out Bangkok entertainment venues that are operating illegally.

Chadchart said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will ensure thorough inspections across the city.

[Lonnie]

9 hours ago, reader said:

proprietor is ready to compensate relatives of the dead and injured.

Would never be enough if the exits were locked. Do they have life in prison in Thailand?

[alvnv]

57 minutes ago, Lonnie said:

Do they have life in prison in Thailand?

Yes, and I hear it’s quite lively: 

Jokes aside, Thailand has both, life sentence and death penalty

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Mountain B pub owner detained, confesses charges

CHON BURI: The owner of Mountain B pub is under detention at a police station after he reported to police on Saturday night. His lawyer said his client had confessed to all charges.

Pongsiri Panprasong, 27, reported to Phlu Ta Luang police. He was promptly escorted into the police station building without talking to meda gathered outside.

The detention took place soon after the Pattaya Provincial Court signed an arrest warrant for him on the following two charges.

• Negligent acts that cause the death of other persons
• Operating a nightspot without permission

Mr Pongsiri was taken to the cells at the police station after hours of interrogations with no bail allowed by the police.

Lawyer Anucha Wongsrisat said his client had confessed to the charges and he will request bail approval from the court on Monday by depositing 1 million baht in cash as surety.

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

PATTAYA: The Pattaya Provincial Court on Monday approved the conditional release on bail of the owner of Mountain B pub, where a fire claimed 15 lives and injured 38 other people early Friday morning. Pongsiri...

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2364031/deadly-blaze-pub-owner-gets-bail. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Bangkok Post PCL. All rights reserved.

Police took him from Phu Ta Luang police station in Sattahip district of Chon Buri, where he has been held since Saturday, to the court in Pattaya, where they applied to detain him for another 12 days...

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2364031/deadly-blaze-pub-owner-gets-bail. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Bangkok Post PCL. All rights reserved.

 

[reader]

From The Thaiger

Death toll rises to 16

The Mountain B tragedy continues as another person injured in the fire dies in hospital. A 23 year old man identified as Sittichai Ouilert died at Chon Buri hospital at 10.21pm yesterday, after he was caught in the fire which swept through a Chon Buri nightclub on Thursday night.

A total of 13 people died at the scene in the Sattahip district and three people have since died from their injuries in hospital, according to the Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office.

Of the 42 people injured in the fire, nine people have returned home. Of the 30 people still receiving treatment in hospital, 16 are still on ventilators to help them breathe, according to the Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office.

[PeterRS]

I find it unbelievable that the 27-year old owner of the club was freed on bail of 300,000 baht although he has to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet. Just 300,000 baht when more than a dozen have been killed due to his negligence? The police opposed bail. So who was paid off is my first assumption. And will he ever return to the court?

[reader]

From The Thaiger

Death tolls rises to 17

Another person injured in the Mountain B fire died in hospital this morning, raising the total death toll of the tragedy to 17. The blaze which swept through the nightclub in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, happened a week ago today.

Lt. Cl. Palitdet Chumngern, a marine in the Royal Thai Navy, died at 7.54am this morning at Sririraj Hospital, according to the Chon Buri Provincial Public Relations Office.

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

17-year-old becomes 18th victim to die

An 18th person has died in the tragic Chon Buri pub fire, this time a young girl of 17 called Mind, who had been on life support in the hospital since the night of the fire.  “Mind” was the third minor to die in the fire, after a 17 year old and an 18 year old (a friend of Mind’s) were found dead inside the club after the fire. The legal age to be in a bar or club in Thailand is 20 and the owners say they don’t know how underage people were able to get inside the pub.

A week after a deadly fire ripped through the Mountain B Pub in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri, 27 patrons that night are still in the hospital. Of those, 10 are in serious condition and require ventilators. There were originally 41 reported injuries, though it was later revised to 38 in the hospital immediately after the fire. 13 people died inside the club, while over the next few hours and days five more people have now died in the hospital.

[PeterRS]

Very sadly the number of deaths will almost certainly continue to rise. When fire has all but destroyed your lungs, the chance of life is extremely limited. And they are all so young! That the owner was provided bail is in my view monstrous.

[reader]

The sad truth is that we will continue to bemoan the system that made a catastrophe like this possible but it's only a matter of time before it happens again. Corruption grants justice only to the privileged. It's the crime that never stops giving. This victim suffered one of the most excruciating deaths possible yet the persons responsible are unlikely to suffer any consequences.

From Pattaya News

19th victim succumbs

A 23-year-old woman who was the girlfriend of the deceased singer in the Mountain B club fire died today, August 15th.

Athitaya, who was also the girlfriend of the singer who previously passed away in the fire is the 19th fatality of the Mountain B club fire in Chonburi’s Sattahip district.

Her mother who asked TPN media not to reveal her full name told her story on Facebook, “I was allowed to see my daughter on Mother’s Day, August 12th. She was wrapped in bandages with only her nose and mouth exposed for a breathing tube and was barely responsive. The doctor told me her body was burnt almost 100 percent, but she could still hang on due to her age.”

On August 13th, her mother carried on, “I was lost for words when my daughter’s child asked me about her. Her symptoms only got worse. She had blood poisoning. I knew she wanted to communicate because I saw her cry. I thanked everyone for the blood donations needed.”

On August 14th, her mother wrote on Facebook, “The doctor said my daughter was incredibly strong to hang on this long despite her excruciating injuries. But they told me she might not be able to pass this night. Her heart could stop beating anytime.”

Finally, on August 15th, the mother confirmed on Facebook that her daughter Athitaya has passed away at the age of 23.

[reader]

From Thai News Agency

Arrest Warrant Issued for Real Owner of Mountain B Pub

CHON BURI, Aug 16 (TNA) – The Pattaya Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Somyot Panprasong, 55, who is the alleged real owner of the Mountain B pub that caught fire in Sattahip district of Chon Buri early this month.

Mr Somyot was charged with recklessness causing death and unauthorized pub operation as police found out that he was the real owner of the burnt pub but had his son act as the official owner.

Meanwhile, lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet on Monday brought relatives of 13 victims of the Aug 5 Mountain B pub fire to the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok to ask it to take over the case from the Phlu Ta Luang police station in Sattahip district.

Local police and administrative officials had a conflict of interest in the pub operation and there were many influential figures in Sattahip, the lawyer said.

He also said that he had evidence to prove that Pongsiri Panprasong, the son of Mr Somyot, was not the real owner of the pub and other shareholders of the pub should face legal action related to the tragic fire. (TNA)

 

[reader]

From Pattaya News

The 20th fatality from the ‘Mountain B’ nightclub fire

Chonburi –The 20th fatality from the ‘Mountain B’ nightclub tragic fire incident was confirmed on Friday, August 19th, to be a 50-year-old Thai national who reportedly suffered from sepsis, local media reported.

The deceased, whose name was withheld due to our editorial policy, was reportedly one of the patients who was identified as a seriously injured case. He was being treated under close observation but later suffered from infections and was eventually pronounced dead as of 1:19 PM yesterday.

According to his older brother, the deceased had traveled from Bangkok to Sattahip to escort his mother to a hospital on the following day. However, his friends invited him to the ‘Mountain B’ venue on the night of the incident.

Most parts of his body were burned from the fire and he was in serious condition. He was rushed to Sattahip Hospital for an emergency before being transferred to the Chonburi hospital where he was treated for 14 days until he was pronounced dead on Friday afternoon.

The brother additionally told local reporters that the family had received compensation from the owner of Mountain B for 30,000 baht and the body would be delivered for a funeral on Saturday morning.

[reader]

6 hours ago, reader said:

The brother additionally told local reporters that the family had received compensation from the owner of Mountain B for 30,000 baht and the body would be delivered for a funeral on Saturday morning.

Sadly, we now know what the pub owner believes a human life is worth.

[reader]

21st victim dies

The Bangkok Post is reporting that the Mountain B fire has claimed its 21st death when a  man succumbed to injuries in a Bangkok Hospital. Nineteen victims remain hospitalized, seven of them relying in ventilators.

[PeterRS]

On 8/20/2022 at 11:51 PM, reader said:

Sadly, we now know what the pub owner believes a human life is worth.

I just noticed this post (above). I expect - but clearly do not know for sure - that this is the usual downpayment to allow relatives to pay for funeral expenses. Damages for the loss of a life will come later.

[reader]

Death toll rises to 22

The Bangkok Post reports that a woman who was seriously burned in the Mountain B fire has succumbed to her injuries.

[reader]

From Pattaya News

Pattaya officials inspect nightlife venues

Pattaya officials inspected the nightlife venues on Walking Street to ensure the operators complied with the fire prevention measures.

Mr. Pornchai Sang-iad, Permanent Secretary of Banglamung district, and relevant officials screened various entertainment venues on Walking Street in South Pattaya late last night, September 2nd, to remind the operators about the fire prevention measures.

The inspection focused on fire escapes and fire extinguishers, Pornchai said. However, the official found that some venues still had unready fire escapes that were blocked and difficult to access. “The venues must have a clear path leading to the fire escape,” Pornchai said before ordering the operators to clear the obstructions from the fire escape.

[vinapu]

those inspection should be done often and without warning at various times and if fire exit is obstructed venue should be cleared for the night right away.

But dream on , vinapu

[PeterRS]

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

those inspection should be done often and without warning at various times and if fire exit is obstructed venue should be cleared for the night right away.

But dream on , vinapu

Totally agree. But it will never happen until one owner is sent to jail for several years and fined a large amount of cash.

[reader]

From Pattaya News

Fire claims 23rd victim

The latest report of the death toll of the Mountain B fire in Sattahip on August 5th, rose to 23 people, adding the death of Lieutenant Panupong Wongpakpaiboon, 27, from the Royal Thai Navy in Sattahip.

He was identified as a seriously injured case previously with 60 percent burns. He was being treated at a hospital before he was pronounced dead yesterday (September 2^nd) from infection.

========================================

All emergency exits locked in raided club

The Bangkok Post is reporting that all the fire doors were locked when police raided a club in Chiang Rai early Saturday where they found 325 underage drinkers packed inside.  Three emergency exit doors were locked, police said.

8 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Totally agree. But it will never happen until one owner is sent to jail for several years and fined a large amount of cash.

Wholeheartedly agree but I wouldn't hold my breath.

In the meantime, the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to ask ourselves this question whenever we enter a bar or club: where is the second exit? I believe it was Floridarob who said that he checked once at the notorious Soi 2 club and found it blocked.

It may seem overly cautious--until of course you find yourself being crushed by the panicked mob behind you in the dirction of the way they entered the club.

 

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, reader said:

In the meantime, the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to ask ourselves this question whenever we enter a bar or club: where is the second exit? I believe it was Floridarob who said that he checked once at the notorious Soi 2 club and found it blocked.

It may seem overly cautious--until of course you find yourself being crushed by the panicked mob behind you in the direction of the way they entered the club.

 

it may sound like fun killing but even better way is simply to avoid all spaces being too saturated with people. When panic  starts chances of being crushed  are high even if all exits are opened and unobstructed.

Learned that lesson early , as a child I witnessed lady being trampled upon , thanks God , not fatally but still bruisy and bloody by crowd trying to get indoor to department store panicking from most of mundane reasons - sudden downpour.

It's why nobody ever saw me at DJ Station