Forensics experts: 30 days to identify cause of Phuket's Tiger Disco blaze

Phuket Gazette

Phuket Forensic Office chief Lt Col Sirilak Kuntaro (left) inspects the fire gutted Tiger Discotheque. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

National police forensics chief Col Nattapol Samsen said it would take 30 days to determine the cause of the Tiger Disco fire, which killed four people. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- The top forensics police officer in the country yesterday announced it will take 30 days to determine what started the fire that engulfed the Tiger Discotheque last Friday.

Four people died and 11 were injured in the blaze.

Col Nattapol Samsen, the Superintendent of the national Office of Forensic Science, led a team of 10 investigators in collecting evidence at the site, on Phuket’s famed Soi Bangla in Patong.

Joining the team from Bangkok in sifting through the remains of the nightclub were forensics officers from Royal Thai Police Region 8 headquarters in Surat Thani, led by Col Phongnarate Tantivathana, and Phuket Forensic Police chief Lt Col Sirilak Kuntaro.

The officers spent about three hours gathering samples of electrical wires, foam cuttings, pieces of the scorched building itself and other materials.

“The evidence collected will be flown to Bangkok for laboratory tests. It will take 30 days to know what caused the fire,” Col Nattapol told the Phuket Gazette.

The news follows Patong Electricity Chief Atipong Thongyon last Saturday refuting initial reports that the fire was started by lightning striking the transformer that provided the electricity supply to the nightclub.

“If the fire was not caused by transformers blowing up, it is possible it was caused by an electrical short,” Mr Atipong suggested.

An officer with the Patong Police explained to the Gazette yesterday that as the investigation is still ongoing, police have yet to press any charges against the operators of the nightclub.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...laze-16731.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-08-23

29 days to collect brown envelopes and 1 day to declare the winner cause.

Cynical, moi?

The typical Thai way of handling things. Cha yen yen... Gin Khao,... Sabai sabai... Drink Coffee....

Wait wait and wait delay...

Did they walk from Bangkok ?

Aren't forensics usually first on the scene before the evidence is tainted or removed ???

Did they walk from Bangkok ?

Aren't forensics usually first on the scene before the evidence is tainted or removed ???

Not in this case, at least until all the incriminating evidence has been loaded up in a big truck and hauled away. I've read quite a few books dealing with fire forensics, and none of them have given an arbitrary 30 days to come up with a plausible theory and cause.

Did they walk from Bangkok ?

Aren't forensics usually first on the scene before the evidence is tainted or removed ???

Not in this case, at least until all the incriminating evidence has been loaded up in a big truck and hauled away. I've read quite a few books dealing with fire forensics, and none of them have given an arbitrary 30 days to come up with a plausible theory and cause.

At least one theoretical source was the first thing packed up and taken away from what I've read. Where did the new lighting rig disappear to?

there will be stuff ups galore ..forensics er ..spoke to a farang several years ago ....a policeman in his native country .....his neighbour found dead in suspicious circumstances ....he could not believe how the potential crime scene was stuffed up ....amateur ..to say the least