Santika Club fire
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| Santika Club Fire | |
|---|---|
 The ruins of the Santika Nightclub, taken three days after the event on January 4. |
|
| Location | Bangkok, Thailand [1] |
| Date | 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 in the Santika Club nightclub in Watthana, Bangkok, Thailand near Thong Lo Road. 61 people were killed (Thai reports indicate 66 people killed) and at least 210 were injured (Thai reports state that 222 people were injured).[1][2] The fire took place just after the new year in Thailand,[3] at 12:35 a.m.[4] 35 foreigners from Australia, Belgium, Canada[5], France, Finland, Japan, Nepal, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States were among the injured.[1][3][6][4]
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[edit] 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.[1] Other sources suggested an electrical explosion was at fault.[6] One eyewitness stated that there were no pyrotechnics in the club at all.[2] 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.[2] 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,[7] and a third door that was locked to prevent robberies.[8]
[edit] Aftermath
The injured were taken to 19 hospitals,[9] and most were brought to Bangkok Hospital.[6][9] Only 29 bodies of the 61 have been identified, 28 of which were Thais and the other a Singaporean.[7] The other bodies were wrapped in white cloth and put on the parking lot in front of the club,[1] and may take up to a week to identify because of extensive burns.[1] Pongsak Kasemsan, an official in Bangkok ordered a preliminary investigation, with results by January 4.[1]
A preliminary inspection of the club's safety system was called "substandard" by police Lieut. Gen. Jongrak Jutanont.[10] 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.[8]
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."[1]
[edit] 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[11].
[edit] See also
- Rhythm Nightclub fire 23 April 1940; Natchez, Mississippi, United States; 209 dead
- Cocoanut Grove fire 28 November 1942; Boston, Massachusetts, United States; 492 dead
- Summerland Leisure Centre fire 2 August 1973; Douglas, Isle of Man; 51 dead
- Beverly Hills Supper Club fire 28 May 1977; Southgate, Kentucky, United States; 165 dead
- Stardust fire 14 February 1981; Dublin, Ireland; 48 dead
- Alcalá 20 Nightclub fire 17 December 1983; Madrid, Spain; 82 dead
- HappyLand fire 25 March 1990; New York City, New York, United States; 87 dead
- Kheyvis Nightclub fire 20 December 1993; Olivos, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 17 dead
- Ozone Disco Club fire 18 March 1996; Quezon City, Philippines; 162 dead
- Gothenburg Nightclub fire 29 October 1998; Gothenburg, Sweden; 63 dead
- Luoyang Christmas fire 25 December 2000; Luoyang, People's Republic of China; 309 dead
- E2 Nightclub stampede 17 February 2003; Chicago, Illinois, United States; 21 dead
- The Station Nightclub fire 20 February 2003; West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States; 100 dead
- Cro-magnon Republic Nightclub fire 30 December 2004; Buenos Aires, Argentina; 194 dead
- Wuwang Club fire 21 September 2008; Shenzhen, People's Republic of China; 43 dead
[edit] References
- ^ 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 2009-01-04.
[edit] External links
News related to New Year fire kills at least 59, injures 212 more at Bangkok pub at Wikinews
