Large fire at Phuket SuperCheap, reports of explosions

[Lite Beer]

Large fire at Phuket SuperCheap, reports of explosions

Claire Connell

PHUKET: A large fire has broken out at the SuperCheap store on Thepkrasstri Rd in Phuket Town this evening

View the video here.

The building was well involved at around 10pm. Sirens can be heard around the island as firetrucks go to the scene.

Early reports say around 1,000 staff were inside SuperCheap at the time of the fire. There are around 20 firetrucks at the scene now. Vachira Hospital staff are there for first aid, but no details are available about any injuries or deaths.

One report said the damage was estimated to be around B900 million.

Nuengruethai Buddawong was at SuperCheap around 10.30pm this evening, after she drove there from Khao Rang Hill to see what the fire was.

"I can hear the sirens and the bomb sounds. The traffic police have blocked the main road and the alleyway to get through to SuperCheap. Now I'm at the electric company office close by. On the main road there are a lot people."

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/large-fire-at-phuket-supercheap-42397.php

-- Phuket News 2013-10-16

[phuketsub]

From Phuket Gazette editorial in 2011

Phuket Opinion: More disasters guaranteed It comes as little surprise that the Tiger tragedy has now re-ignited world attention on fire safety at night entertainment venues in Thailand. However, there are far bigger firetraps in Phuket that have been accidents-in-waiting for more than a decade. One of the most obvious is a large retail outlet that appears to have been designed for maximum carnage should a fire ever break out there.

[Guest]

https://twitter.com/Ekbodinpasopon/status/390516027873689600/photo/1

Edited October 16, 2013 by Guest

[TheRedlines]

This is a serious bummer.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk

[bearpolar]

Anyone know how far the fire could get if it hits the gas station? My house is 500m away behind it so no concrete road to stop it.

Edited October 16, 2013 by bearpolar

[phuketsub]

There was a huge Burmese community living out back; hope they are okay

[phuketsub]

Anyone know how far the fire could get if it hits the gas station? My house is 500m away behind it so no concrete road to stop it.

i was worried about that too..I would advise evacuation if you are still there, even if just to avoid exposure to toxins..the whole middle of that place was cramped up with highly toxic car car chemicals and they even had a fireworks section with no extinguisher

[rwdrwdrwd]

Just been told about a post in Thai on Facebook claiming staff closed the shutters to Supercheap to stop people leaving with goods when the fire started... I really hope it is just a rumour. Perhaps someone can translate - https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1379413_4977762622173_863651496_n.jpg

Edited October 16, 2013 by rwdrwdrwd

[phuketexpat5555]

http://www.thephuketnews.com/large-fire-at-phuket-supercheap-reports-of-explosions-video-42397.php

Updated now, please keep refreshing this story link for more information.

Cheers, Claire/Ed Phuket News.

[GirlDrinkDrunk]

https://twitter.com/Ekbodinpasopon/status/390516027873689600/photo/1

really? hell of a shot.

[Boater]

Just been told about a post in Thai on Facebook claiming staff closed the shutters to Supercheap to stop people leaving with goods when the fire started... I really hope it is just a rumour. Perhaps someone can translate - https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1379413_4977762622173_863651496_n.jpg

I really hope that is not true

Never been in super cheap , but do they have clearly marked fire exits ? Also why was it a fire waiting to happen as many have posted ?

[falkan]

a lot of people and good view from Khao Rang if you want to look...

[fstarbkk]

The view from Samkong area. This is massive!

Edited October 16, 2013 by fstarbkk

[NomadJoe]

From Phuket Gazette editorial in 2011

Phuket Opinion: More disasters guaranteed

It comes as little surprise that the Tiger tragedy has now re-ignited world attention on fire safety at night entertainment venues in Thailand. However, there are far bigger firetraps in Phuket that have been accidents-in-waiting for more than a decade. One of the most obvious is a large retail outlet that appears to have been designed for maximum carnage should a fire ever break out there.

Weird that literally yesterday I was thinking of what a firetrap that place is.

You called it August 2013:

Supercheap is a horrible firetrap, with the /beer/spirits section especially badly-designed if a fire ever broke out there....think about what you would do if a fire broke out next time you are in there

And again last month:

At least all local Tesco has basic fire safety measures in place ..the main Supercheap branch is a huge fire disaster waiting to happen, as I have written many times in this forum (and alluded to in others).

If a fire ever broke out near the main entrances, which is not unlikely given all the people cooking over open flames thereabouts, the death toll could be in the thousands: worse than OG269 and the tsunami (Phuket death toll) combined...

Getting out of that place is hard enough even when it is not on fire. I feel like I have cheated death every time I walk out of there.

If any Phuket retail outlet, real or planned, is in need of a protest it is Supercheap and the fire safety disaster that can (and probably will) happen there unless someone in power does something about it.

Phuketsub was not the only one to express concern:

Super Cheap is a giant fire hazard just waiting to happen

Edited October 16, 2013 by NomadJoe

[Guest]

Video from above Kanwich Phujarunewong youtube feed

[JetsetBkk]

RIP those who couldn't get out.

[Tywais]

More images here - https://www.facebook.com/Ruamkatanyu.News/posts/733179913365893

[Tywais]

Google translate from RKU News facebook.

More Phuket at this time to control the placement of fire . Light Brigade had not yet gone . But still can not get inside the arena . Because the Light Brigade . Some news sources report that the body found at the scene confirmed that 11 bodies from the scene . The rescue team charity fair question. That no one can go inside if you would like to confirm that as soon as the scene did not report on deaths here .

[cherrylee2512]

Just been told about a post in Thai on Facebook claiming staff closed the shutters to Supercheap to stop people leaving with goods when the fire started... I really hope it is just a rumour. Perhaps someone can translate - https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1379413_4977762622173_863651496_n.jpg

I tried my best to translate ...

i am talking with my dads friend. He was at supercheap at the time the fire was starting he was one of the first people who saw the the flames starting at tried to leave quietly just as people were starting to shout FIRE and everyone started fighting to get out. The fire started to come from the area they sell bags and foam boxes. when the staff started to realise that there was a fire the they started to close the shutters because they were worried that customers would leave stealing goods, this caused lots of people to be trapped inside. My dads friend said that he thinks because of this lots of people have died inside. This story im telling you is true! right now he is still very nervous (in shock) The most important thing is that there was no fire alarm sounds to warn people and the staff tried to close the doors to stop people going out. thank you for reading

[Valentine]

Just been told about a post in Thai on Facebook claiming staff closed the shutters to Supercheap to stop people leaving with goods when the fire started... I really hope it is just a rumour. Perhaps someone can translate - https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1379413_4977762622173_863651496_n.jpg

I tried my best to translate ...

i am talking with my dads friend. He was at supercheap at the time the fire was starting he was one of the first people who saw the the flames starting at tried to leave quietly just as people were starting to shout FIRE and everyone started fighting to get out. The fire started to come from the area they sell bags and foam boxes. when the staff started to realise that there was a fire the they started to close the shutters because they were worried that customers would leave stealing goods, this caused lots of people to be trapped inside. My dads friend said that he thinks because of this lots of people have died inside. This story im telling you is true! right now he is still very nervous (in shock) The most important thing is that there was no fire alarm sounds to warn people and the staff tried to close the doors to stop people going out. thank you for reading

I hope this is not true but the cynic in me suggests it is. If so it could be the cause of many needless deaths & injuries. Like others I have often thought Supercheap a disaster waiting to happen in the event of fire. I did not go there very often but never noticed any fire exits just the main entrance at the front & I think an open area on one side where they had the bulk goods. If the fire spread quickly anyone in the middle of the store would have had a hard time getting out.

[LivinginKata]

This was a disaster waiting to happen, and we all knew it. Many members predicted it here on Thaivisa. Now we wait for reports on any fataities. Tradgedy.

[bearpolar]

Theres large doors in the back next to the desks/couch/beds.

Quite sad that 8000b a month cashier would kill people for stolen goods when all the goods are gone when a fire happens. I wouldnt even feel bad if an evil tuktuk driver managed to salvage free expensive electronics from a store going on fire.

[webfact]

BREAKING NEWS: Main SuperCheap in Phuket Town demolished in blaze
Phuket Gazette


Firefighters continue to battle the flames. Photo: Isaac Stone Simonelli

PHUKET: -- The main SuperCheap in Phuket burst into flames tonight, turning into an unstable inferno and sending a cloud of black smoke over a kilometer into the air.

Every fire truck in Phuket was called to the scene on as well as trucks from nearby provinces. Fire fighters have yet to control the flames but are focusing on containing the fire and preventing the flames from igniting neighboring signs and trees.

The store on Thepkrasattri Road was still open when the fire broke out at about 9pm, and bystanders reported hearing cries of help from inside the building. It is not known how many people were in the building at the time.

At about 11:15pm a victim was rushed to Vachira Hospital, a man about 40-years old.

One early report said that a short circuit started the fire, which spread to the firecracker section of the store. Another report said the short circuit had ignited gas tanks.

Witnesses heard explosions, a rescue worker with the Kusoldharm foundation told the Phuket Gazette. Occasional explosions continued to rock the facility hours after the blaze started.

Early estimates are that damages will reach at least 100million baht.

When a Gazette reporter left the scene after midnight, he reported seeing Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa, Phuket City Police Chief Sermpan Sirikong and mayors from every municipality on site.

The massive, sprawling store was a Phuket institution, selling everything from ready-made food and groceries to plants to plastic products, goldfish, prescription drugs, cement mixers and car accessories.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/BREAKING-NEWS-Main-SuperCheap-in-Phuket-Town-demolished-in-blaze-22516.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-10-17

[Shot]

I hope everyone got out ok. My gut tells me different.

[hansgruber]

The death toll will be covered up.

They won't count the Burmese.

[petedk]

It was on BBC News a short while ago and they said NO casualties.

Let's hope that's true.

[Shot]

I wonder who's name is/was on the last fire inspection? Probably busy misplacing it now.

[steelepulse]

Let's hope the rumours of the building being shuttered are false. Hopefully the staff had the common sense to run along with the customers and get out of there.

[Valentine]

The death toll will be covered up.

They won't count the Burmese.

My thoughts exactly. A tragedy much of which will be covered up.

[hansgruber]

1000 or so people now unemployed. Watch the crime soar over high season.