E-Paper
2 more Bangkok nightclub fire victims die
Two more Thais who were severely injured in a New Year's fire at a Bangkok night club have died in hospital, taking the death toll in the tragedy to 61, medical officials said.
Two more Thais who were severely injured in a New Year's fire at a Bangkok night club have died in hospital, taking the death toll in the tragedy to 61, medical officials said on Saturday.
The pair, 30-year-old and 26-year-old women, died on Friday night as a result of severe burns sustained in the blaze, which also injured more than 200 others celebrating the start of 2009, one official at Bangkok Hospital said.
The Santika nightclub in a trendy Bangkok neighbourhood was popular with both foreigners and high-society Thais.
Among the dead was a Singaporean man, identified as Teo Sze Siong. At least 20 foreigners from Japan, Australia, France and the United States had to be treated in hospital, according to emergency services.
The cause of the fire was still not clear, Deputy National Police Chief Chongrak Chutanont said on Friday. Witnesses said it was caused by fireworks and media reported it was due to an electrical fault.
(Reporting by Satawasin Staporncharnchai; Writing by Arada Therdthammakun; Editing by Ed Cropley and Alex Richardson)
