Dozens die in nightclub inferno

2009-01-01 06:51

Bangkok - A fire swept through a high-class nightclub jammed with several hundred New Year's revellers early on Thursday, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 200, officials said.

A number of foreigners were among the casualties from the blaze that erupted shortly after midnight at the Santika Club in an entertainment district of Bangkok.

Victims died from burns, smoke inhalation and injuries during the stampede to escape from the club, which had only one door for the public, police Major Gen. Chokchai Deeprasertwit said.

Firefighters said a door at the rear was known only to the staff, while an Associated Press reporter saw a third door at one side of the building.

Video footage of the disaster showed bloodied, bruised and burned victims being dragged out of the burning, two-storey club or managing to run through the door or shattered windows.

The video - provided to AP Television News by rescue workers - showed flames racing through the entire building even as the rescue operation was going on.

The Narenthorn Emergency Centre, which was co-ordinating relief efforts, said 59 people died, with eight of the bodies burned beyond recognition, and another 203 were injured.

It was unclear how many foreigners were among the casualties.

Most fatalities foreigners

Police Lieutenant General Jongrak Jutanont was quoted by the website of The Nation newspaper as saying most of those killed were foreigners and included tourists from Austria, Japan and Nepal.

Earlier, he told reporters that among the injured were nationals of Australia, Nepal, Japan and the Netherlands.

An Associated Press photographer saw the bodies of at least 10 foreigners from the fire at the police morgue, but authorities did not provide immediate identification and some rescue workers said that they saw mainly Asians among the dead.

Chokchai 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.

Countdown fireworks

The website of The Nation newspaper quoted one partygoer, Somchai Frendi, as saying the blaze was caused by the countdown fireworks that ignited the second floor ceiling, which was made largely of soundproofing material.

Jongrak said the initial investigation found that the club's safety system was "sub-standard" but did not elaborate.

The club was packed with about 1 000 celebrants, according to police officers who declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

The rescue workers said most of the bodies were found in a pit area surrounding the stage.

The club 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, which was strewn with shoes of the victims, water bottles, parking stickers and other debris.

- AP