BMA to appeal Santika fire ruling

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will appeal a Central Administrative Court ruling that it was at fault in a death that occurred during the Santika Club fire two years ago, spokesman Wasan Meewong said yesterday.

"The BMA respects the court's decision, but a ruling over the BMA's failure to perform its tasks regarding public safety would need to be assessed by BMA officials, pending an appeal," he added.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukwetworrakij said a process was under way to determine the extent to which Watthana district officials were guilty of negligence, and how much should be paid to relatives as compensation.

The court on Wednesday ordered the BMA to pay the parents of Krich Narong Bt312,080 in compensation plus 7.5 per cent interest, calculated from December 28, 2009, when the fire gutted the pub and killed 67 people.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02

The amount of money here is a pittance. I guess the BMA is concerned about the precedent and further claims. It seems like a step forward to make government administrative bodies accountable for performing their duties diligently. I've seen far too many fire escape doors with chains and padlocks, all over the country. If there is a fire, there is no escape. Illegal? So please enforce the law.

As I remember about this tragedy, the exit doors were "chained" shut from the inside to avoid "people sneaking in for free." Management and ownership of Santika should be in prison for mass homicide. The BMA should have terminated all of its inspectors and regulators who were found to be negligent, and they should have been charged with manslaughter.

The amount won by this victim's parents is insignificant, even as a token, and the newspaper should be investigating this mass murder due to negligence and indifference as well as corruption and graft. It's amazing how little coverage this has received apart from the initial news and horrible photographs of the burned victims the days after the tragedy. Thailand's lack of regard for safety and regulations is another case of its lack of security and risk to tourists and citizens. Ever wonder when in Bangkok how you never see any fire trucks or hear them? Bangkok is the only major city in the world with large amounts of tourists and foreign residents where you rarely if ever see or hear fire trucks or ambulances. Amazing in a city the size of Bangkok. Think about it.

As I remember about this tragedy, the exit doors were "chained" shut from the inside to avoid "people sneaking in for free." Management and ownership of Santika should be in prison for mass homicide. The BMA should have terminated all of its inspectors and regulators who were found to be negligent, and they should have been charged with manslaughter.

The amount won by this victim's parents is insignificant, even as a token, and the newspaper should be investigating this mass murder due to negligence and indifference as well as corruption and graft. It's amazing how little coverage this has received apart from the initial news and horrible photographs of the burned victims the days after the tragedy. Thailand's lack of regard for safety and regulations is another case of its lack of security and risk to tourists and citizens. Ever wonder when in Bangkok how you never see any fire trucks or hear them? Bangkok is the only major city in the world with large amounts of tourists and foreign residents where you rarely if ever see or hear fire trucks or ambulances. Amazing in a city the size of Bangkok. Think about it.

Agree with your assertions in the first half. I guess we must live in different parts of the city, because the sound of ambulances, rescue- and fire-trucks, seems perennial in my area.

As I remember about this tragedy, the exit doors were "chained" shut from the inside to avoid "people sneaking in for free." Management and ownership of Santika should be in prison for mass homicide. The BMA should have terminated all of its inspectors and regulators who were found to be negligent, and they should have been charged with manslaughter.

The amount won by this victim's parents is insignificant, even as a token, and the newspaper should be investigating this mass murder due to negligence and indifference as well as corruption and graft. It's amazing how little coverage this has received apart from the initial news and horrible photographs of the burned victims the days after the tragedy. Thailand's lack of regard for safety and regulations is another case of its lack of security and risk to tourists and citizens. Ever wonder when in Bangkok how you never see any fire trucks or hear them? Bangkok is the only major city in the world with large amounts of tourists and foreign residents where you rarely if ever see or hear fire trucks or ambulances. Amazing in a city the size of Bangkok. Think about it.

But in many countries, if you see this type of behaviour (locking fire doors) you can report it to the local police or district management (council) and they will surprise-inspect and prosecute the offenders.

Have you ever tried making a complaint to BMA/police/district? The reaction is they nod, smile, then throw it in the bin when your back is turned (it was just extra work).

The only satisfaction I have had that way was after I saw a farmer dig a trench through a road to carry excess water out of his field - district (no reaction) - police (no reaction).

Then when the monsoon season started, the trench carried the water out of the farmer's field and flooded the police station. That got the desired reaction and suddenly the district repaired the road.

So, yes, I believe BMA holds secondary liability for failures to regularly inspect events and make sure the law was followed.

Cheers

Edited March 2, 201214 yr by airconsult

Ever wonder when in Bangkok how you never see any fire trucks or hear them? Bangkok is the only major city in the world with large amounts of tourists and foreign residents where you rarely if ever see or hear fire trucks or ambulances. Amazing in a city the size of Bangkok. Think about it.

Don't know where you live, but where I live (corner of Sukhumvit and Asoke), it seems like the sirens are constantly going. I also remember very well the night of the Santika fire (and the Soi Cowboy fire too), the sirens seemed to go on forever and ever.

There were many aspects of this tragery that went beyond mere negligence or incompetence that I don't think have been dealt with by this verdict. Actual forgery of signatures on safety certificates, the transfer of shares to a high-ranking police officer that just happened to coincide with the local police stopping their raids on this unlicenced club,etc., etc.

A tragedy of this magnitude should have been fully investigated by a public inquiry to determine the facts and punish the wrongdoers, but then, TIT and that means that the rich and influential have once again got away with murder.

Edited March 2, 201214 yr by catmac

300,000 baht for a Santika death??? $10,000 U.S. Doesn't even begin to approach justice.

And what does the case/verdict mean about the owners and those responsible for the club? If the relatives of the victim are pursuing a court case against the BMA, does that mean the private parties behind the club have simply scampered???

As I remember about this tragedy, the exit doors were "chained" shut from the inside to avoid "people sneaking in for free." Management and ownership of Santika should be in prison for mass homicide. The BMA should have terminated all of its inspectors and regulators who were found to be negligent, and they should have been charged with manslaughter.

The amount won by this victim's parents is insignificant, even as a token, and the newspaper should be investigating this mass murder due to negligence and indifference as well as corruption and graft. It's amazing how little coverage this has received apart from the initial news and horrible photographs of the burned victims the days after the tragedy. Thailand's lack of regard for safety and regulations is another case of its lack of security and risk to tourists and citizens. Ever wonder when in Bangkok how you never see any fire trucks or hear them? Bangkok is the only major city in the world with large amounts of tourists and foreign residents where you rarely if ever see or hear fire trucks or ambulances. Amazing in a city the size of Bangkok. Think about it.

That's probably you don't look around anough

300,000 baht for a Santika death??? $10,000 U.S. Doesn't even begin to approach justice.

... does that mean the private parties behind the club have simply scampered???

Not so different from the average Thai guy getting a sweet young girl knocked up and then leave. TIT, most likely if you died you deserved dying, if you got pregnant then that was your destiny. Karma is not fair.

The Central Administrative Court yesterday (18/05/12) ordered City Hall to pay nearly 800,000 baht in compensation to the parents of five of the 66 victims of the 2009 Santika pub inferno.

http://www.thairath.co.th/content/region/261487

Brazil night club fire kills 245 in Santa Maria

At least 245 people have died in a fire that swept through a nightclub in a university city in southern Brazil, police and officials say.

Local media say the fire began when a band let off fireworks at the Kiss club in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul.

Reports say panic spread as people tried to get out. Many victims reportedly died from inhaling toxic fumes or from being crushed.

The fire is now out and bodies are being removed from the scene.

Continued here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21220308 27/01/13

Similar to the Santika fire. Fireworks set off in the club...