By: Frank Hu

In Bangkok, Thailand, there was an illegal nightclub. In Aug. 5, a fire began in the club, which spread rapidly, killing at least 13 innocent people. About 36 people were injured.

Police said the nightclub was illegal, it was not licensed and was built in an area where nightclubs were not allowed. They are still looking for the cause of the fire.

However, the true cause of the fire has been in dispute ever since. Witnesses said flames came from the ceiling above the stage and the sound like explosions could be heard after the fire. Some local news outlets reported that the emergency exit had been locked at the time, and others reported that the fire was fed by an inflammable soundproofing material.

A customer named “Nana” told a reporter from the local TV station PPTV that as she sat at the back of the crowd, she saw a spark on the ceiling and the fire spread rapidly.

Another of Thailand’s deadliest fires in recent decades was at a nightclub in the capital, Bangkok, during a 2008-2009 New Year’s Eve celebration, when 66 people were killed and more than 200 injured. That blaze at the Santina nightclub also began on the ceiling above a stage, apparently sparked by an indoors fireworks display. Toxic smoke flooded the venue as the entire club caught fire.

Source:

Thailand Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 13, Injures Dozens – The New York Times (nytimes.com)