Inferno: No word on SA victims

2009-01-01 14:31

Johannesburg - Relatives of South Africans in Thailand are urged to check that they are okay after a deadly Bangkok nightclub fire, said the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

"We are appealing to South Africans who have family in Thailand to initiate contact with them to check they are fine," said spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota.

She said this was especially the case if they believed their family or friends to have been in the vicinity of the Santika Club, which was packed with some 1 000 revellers when a fire apparently caused by a pyrotechnic show broke out during New Year's celebrations.

Fifty nine people were killed and 212 people were injured. Foreigners were amongst the dead and injured.

Kota said at the moment Thai authorities had not released a list of the wounded and deceased.

SA's ambassador to Thailand, Douglas Gibson, was therefore unable to inform the department yet if South Africans had been involved.

"As soon as Thai authorities do so we will take it from there."

She said on behalf of President Kgalema Motlanthe and Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma condolences were extended to the families of all those who lost their lives.

She said those who were wounded were wished a speedy recovery.

- SAPA