60 killed, over 200 injured in Thailand nightclub fire

The Nation

At least 60 were people killed, including many foreigners, and more than 200 injured when a fierce fire ripped through a popular nightclub in Thailand's capital Bangkok on early thursday morning. The blaze broke out at the famous Santika Club, frequented by both locals and tourists, in Ekkamai area after a pyrotechnic display ignited the second floor ceiling largely made of soundproofing material, reports said.

A number of foreigners, mainly Asians, were among the casualties from the blaze that erupted shortly after midnight at the club, police said.

Nearly 10 foreigners, including from Australia, the Netherlands, Nepal and Japan, were reported to be killed during the stampede to get out of the club from burns, smoke inhalation and injuries during the incident, they said adding, around 30 bodies were charred beyond recognition.

According to some reports, the fire could have started from the short circuiting of pyrotechnics used by the music band entertaining the crowd on the stage.

However, 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.

The Sankita club was in the process of moving to another premises soon and the New Year's party was to bid farewell to 2008 as well as the old premises and security arrangements here were not full proof.

The police said that the two-storey club, where over 1000 people were present at the time of the incident, was completely gutted by the fire with the front of the building blackened and partially collapsed.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visited the still-smoldering club but did not talk to reporters.