Large fire at Phuket SuperCheap, reports of explosions

[stevenl]

Till now they find 60 death people. The goods are covered by insurance.....unofficial comment from a police friend 2 hours ago.

Since apparently they could not enter the building I doubt your police friend is right. I would think that, just like other people, they gossip.

Up to you. But he is right. He can count till 60.

It is far better to stop speculating, let alone spreading rumours, till we really know.

[Guest]

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 do not want to believe this.... IF this is true, they should lock the staff that was closing the doors, in a little building, close the doors and put it on fire!!! It is MURDER!

If there are deaths, there will be a lot of emotional responses to the incident. That also means that what people write include these emotions, mainly fear and anger at the start.

The translation tells that it was a report from 2nd person, where both of them were likely in some state of shock.

It also tells that the employees were trying to close the doors, but did not managed to do so when people run out of the building. This could have however slowed down the escape.

[Cuban]

Phuket is not a small village up in Issan. Phuket is a very wealthy province in Thailand, yet, they refuse to upgrade all forms of infastructure here.

But Phuket is a small Thai Island, many business owners and most of the workers are migrants from elsewhere in Thailand. So although you see "modern Western facing" Phuket the mind-set that drives the Island is firmly Issan in nature.

Will lessons about fire safety in Thailand be learnt?

Probably not.

[harryfrompattaya]

So it went from no one injured to hundreds can be killed according to the latest update!

The number of people possibly trapped by the fire could reach into the hundreds, though Phuket City Police chief Sermphan Sirikong was reluctant to estimate how many people may have died in the blaze.

Another example of everyone being busy stuffing their pockets instead of doing their job.

Some of us forget this is great country with great laws. This is not old Europe but New Asia

[abq2020]

Hope rumors of fatalities numbers I am hearing are wrong...but for those who have ever been in this SuperCheap for sure the worst will be expected. RIP to the dead (if any), and condolences to their families and, also, to the many whose livelihoods were probably wiped-out.

[RogueLeader]

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

The chances of it having been 'destroyed in a fire' are high.

[Pui]

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

Thats a very cynical view. Why should a 1000 shop staff automatically turn to crime?

[petedk]

There are no reports of missing persons but if whole families go shopping and something happens to them it may be some time before they are missed.

I still hope the "No casualities" is right

[webfact]

Phuket SuperCheap fire survivor describes frantic moments, customers fleeing
Claire Connell

PHUKET: -- A Phuket man who was shopping at SuperCheap last night (October 16) has described the moment the fire broke out, saying the entire building was engulfed in around 10 minutes and there was no warning.

Wanchai "Ae" Boonchongsang, the manager of Pepper's in Laguna, said he arrived at SuperCheap around 9.15pm to do some shopping. Reports say the fire, which demolished the entire building, started around 9.30pm.

"One of the staff told me there was a fire, so I looked and it was very small. Then I went to the cashier and on the way out I told some of the staff at the front of the store about the fire.

"It didn't look like a big fire. I thought the staff would take care of it, because it wasn't that big," Mr Wanchai told The Phuket News.

"Then the smoke started to come and everyone started to run away. Some people paid for their shopping and then ran away, leaving their shopping at the cashier. It was very crazy. They were crying and screaming.

"There was an old man walking toward the fire inside the store. I'm not sure if he's alive or dead, I hope he's alive. I hope someone got him out. It was so scary.

"It came so fast, it was very, very fast. Less than 10 minutes and it burnt up everywhere. There was no alarm or anything to tell the customers, there was no warning."

Mr Wanchai said at the time there were not many customers at the store, but there were a lot of staff working.

He said the fire started in the plastics and foam area of the store.

Mr Wanchai said he was "sure" there would be injuries or fatalities. So far there have been no confirmed reports of any injured or dead.

After he left the store he went to his car and drove away, stopping on the bypass road to see the smoke. He said he was "shocked".

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-supercheap-fire-survivor-describes-frantic-moments-customers-fleeing-42404.php


-- Phuket News 2013-10-17

[MK1]

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

Thats a very cynical view. Why should a 1000 shop staff automatically turn to crime?

I think what our fellow blogger was getting at was that with up to 1000 people unemployed, over the high season, the risk that some may revert to crime as a means of substituting their income. A risk that could not be ruled out given anyone’s circumstance, even though, the percentage of that risk would perhaps be extremely low.

[trigger571]

I am amazed that there was actually an Insurance Agency prepared to cover SuperCheap for a single Stang let alone 620 million baht. As my wife say's - "anything can happen in Thailand". Good luck to whoever was the undertaker - I think he/she should have his/her brain and eyes checked. Hope everyone else is OK and that there are no casualties.

[Zumteufel]

They are not decades behind, as they have potential access to exactly the same equipment as everybody else in the world. The problem is will ("it will never happen to me") and money, both in terms of income (taxes) and financial drain (corruption).

At the very least, let's hope that horrible incidents like this and the Tiger fire will change the way things work.

If it didn't happen after the Tiger fire. why are changes likely to happen now?

Thailand is a sad country in many ways. Little respect and no concern for human life!

I am naive enough to believe that there must be SOME tipping point or critical mass for things to change, even in Thailand.

Agree about the respect and concern.

Edited October 17, 2013 by Zumteufel

[YeaBiGgiEs]

Saddening for those who fell victim, especially by the actions of minimum wage monthly paid staff who were more concerned with the stores merchandise rather than human lives.

Don't let me be the first to say this but Chatuchak or JJ Market is another fire death trap waiting to happen. That place would go up in minutes before the first fire truck was on scene

[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

I hope this is not true. If it is, we are talking about a mass murder.

Also, your dad's friend should be careful who he talks to. If his version of events got out, they may try to silence him.

can i just point out again that i translated the transcript because people wanted to know what it said i do not know this person and neither does my dad ?

[Commander Tamson]

Surely even in this 'developing' country, the bare minimum for a public warehouse such as this would be a high pressure sprinkler system (and an adequate number of alarms). May not have saved the building , but would surely save lives.

[webfact]

Fire guts wholesale market in Thai tourist hub

BANGKOK, October 17, 2013 (AFP) - A person was missing after a blaze ripped through a vast wholesale market on the southern Thailand tourist island of Phuket, an official said Thursday.

The fire, which sent huge plumes of smoke and flames into the sky, broke out at the SuperCheap complex on Wednesday night, sending customers fleeing in panic.

Firefighters took four hours to bring the blaze under control, Phuket's deputy governor Sommai Prijasilpa told AFP, adding one person was missing -- without giving details.

"About 90 percent of the store was damaged by the blaze," Sommai said, adding an investigation is under way.

"I have checked with hospitals and health officials... there are no reports of people killed or injured in the fire," she added.

Local media said the missing person was a woman who worked at the market.

Around 1,000 shoppers and other staff inside the complex escaped the blaze as flames engulfed the large building, leaving behind only charred ruins on Thursday.

A fire at a popular nightclub on the island a year ago killed four people, including two foreigners.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-10-17

[haybilly]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the possibility of a large Insurance pay out--or am I being too zealous??

Incidentally--used to use the place many, many years ago when living in Phuket--and, it certainly had it's uses--Super Cheap, it sure was.

Maybe because people are more concerned with the lives of others?

But no, I don't think it has anything to do with an insurance pay out, although I do think they would have liked the opportunity to rebuild. For insurance purposes at least the fire would have happened at night.

Furthermore this fire likely has big impact on the 25 smaller SuperCheap stores around the island. If I understood correctly, it was the logistics center for the smaller stores.

Many of the small mom&pop stores usedto buy their goods from the SC stores.

Holy S**T--there are 25 more Super Cheap stores on the Island--when I left on 2005 the store that has just gone up in flames was the only one--at least AFAIK.

[webfact]

Phuket governor to find relief measures for fire-impacted SuperCheap workers
By English News

BANGKOK, Oct 17 - Interior Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan today instructed concerned agencies to help than 3,000 workers of fire-leveled SuperCheap hypermarket in this southern resort island.

The minister said the situation was under control this morning and that an investigation is underway to find cause of the fire.

The blaze began about 9.30pm last night at the SuperCheap department store on Thepkasattri Road in the Phuket provincial seat.

Mr Jarupong instructed the Phuket governor to convene a meeting of concerned agencies to speed relief measures for the affected. Help centres were set up -- one directed by the National Police Bureau while another as a cooperation of the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

Initial inspection found that 2,736 SuperCheap employees and some 700 Myanmar migrant workers have been affected, according to the minister.

Mr Jarupong said the Department of Employment is prepared to support temporary employment with about 1,600 available job positions.

The minister added that the SuperCheap owner will be asked to join the governor's meeting to help lay out emergency relief measures for the company's workers and other affected persons within today.

Phuket governor Maitree Intusutr said it took about 15 hours to extinguish the fire and he reaffirmed that, as of Thursday, no one was killed or injured in the incident.

He said concerned officials are waiting for permission from police to enter the compound to probe the cause of the fire and search for any casualties. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-10-17

[Shot]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the possibility of a large Insurance pay out--or am I being too zealous??

Incidentally--used to use the place many, many years ago when living in Phuket--and, it certainly had it's uses--Super Cheap, it sure was.

Maybe because people are more concerned with the lives of others?

But no, I don't think it has anything to do with an insurance pay out, although I do think they would have liked the opportunity to rebuild. For insurance purposes at least the fire would have happened at night.

Furthermore this fire likely has big impact on the 25 smaller SuperCheap stores around the island. If I understood correctly, it was the logistics center for the smaller stores.

Many of the small mom&pop stores usedto buy their goods from the SC stores.

Holy S**T--there are 25 more Super Cheap stores on the Island--when I left on 2005 the store that has just gone up in flames was the only one--at least AFAIK.

Very small stores like a 7-11 or Family Mart, but dirtier and less organized.

Edited October 17, 2013 by Shot

[haybilly]

I am amazed that there was actually an Insurance Agency prepared to cover SuperCheap for a single Stang let alone 620 million baht. As my wife say's - "anything can happen in Thailand". Good luck to whoever was the undertaker - I think he/she should have his/her brain and eyes checked. Hope everyone else is OK and that there are no casualties.

I am sure that you mean--'Underwriter'--or maybe you did mean Undertaker??

[webfact]

Still no news on Phuket SuperCheap blaze cause
Naraporn Tuarob

PHUKET: -- The island’s Provincial Police Commander, Pol Maj Gen Ongart Phiuruangnont, announced at a press conference this morning (October 17) regarding the SuperCheap fire that there is still no confirmation of what might have started the blaze.

Gov Maitree speaks to reporters at the scene of the fire this morning.
The SuperCheap megastore on Thepkrassatri Rd burned to the ground in a huge fire last night around 9.40pm. There are still no official reports of anyone injured or dead, though one woman has been reported missing.

Maj Gen Ongart told the media that police could not confirm the cause of the fire.

“Media and press, please don’t ask me because I can’t give you an answer. We have to wait until the Forensic Science Department check the area. The actual cause of the fire might be part of any potential court case.”

Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut said the fire was now under control and the “next step” was organising the situation.

“Also, the media and press should report on the actual facts of this situation – what is true and what is confirmed by officials.”

No other details were provided but Gov Maitree might have been referring to a set of photos of dead bodies which were shared around social media last night, linking the photos to the SuperCheap fire. These were understood to have actually been taken in 2009 following the Santika nightclub fire in Bangkok in 2009, where 66 people were killed.

Deputy Police Commander, Pol Col Peerayuth Garajedi, told the press, “Before go into the scene, we have to consider safety first. I can confirm that so far nothing has been confirmed or reported about any injured or dead.

“At the moment members of the police force are rotating. We will help to ease the traffic flow and control the entrance to the site and protect the area. Also, we will have to question relevant witnesses to conclude the cause of the fire.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/still-no-news-on-phuket-supercheap-blaze-cause-42413.php


-- Phuket News 2013-10-17

[Shot]

Still no news on Phuket SuperCheap blaze cause

Naraporn Tuarob

PHUKET: -- The island’s Provincial Police Commander, Pol Maj Gen Ongart Phiuruangnont, announced at a press conference this morning (October 17) regarding the SuperCheap fire that there is still no confirmation of what might have started the blaze.

Gov Maitree speaks to reporters at the scene of the fire this morning.

The SuperCheap megastore on Thepkrassatri Rd burned to the ground in a huge fire last night around 9.40pm. There are still no official reports of anyone injured or dead, though one woman has been reported missing.

Maj Gen Ongart told the media that police could not confirm the cause of the fire.

“Media and press, please don’t ask me because I can’t give you an answer. We have to wait until the Forensic Science Department check the area. The actual cause of the fire might be part of any potential court case.”

Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut said the fire was now under control and the “next step” was organising the situation.

“Also, the media and press should report on the actual facts of this situation – what is true and what is confirmed by officials.”

No other details were provided but Gov Maitree might have been referring to a set of photos of dead bodies which were shared around social media last night, linking the photos to the SuperCheap fire. These were understood to have actually been taken in 2009 following the Santika nightclub fire in Bangkok in 2009, where 66 people were killed.

Deputy Police Commander, Pol Col Peerayuth Garajedi, told the press, “Before go into the scene, we have to consider safety first. I can confirm that so far nothing has been confirmed or reported about any injured or dead.

“At the moment members of the police force are rotating. We will help to ease the traffic flow and control the entrance to the site and protect the area. Also, we will have to question relevant witnesses to conclude the cause of the fire.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/still-no-news-on-phuket-supercheap-blaze-cause-42413.php

-- Phuket News 2013-10-17

"Deputy Police Commander, Pol Col Peerayuth Garajedi, told the press, “Before go into the scene, we have to consider safety first. I can confirm that so far nothing has been confirmed or reported about any injured or dead."

Edited October 17, 2013 by Shot

[Spare]

An insurance job?

Not to be discounted.

[madmitch]

An insurance job?

Not to be discounted.

Very, very unlikely. The owners are not the type of people that would need to resort to insurance scams.

The place was a tip but a successful tip.

[stevenl]

Still no news on Phuket SuperCheap blaze cause

Naraporn Tuarob

PHUKET: -- The island’s Provincial Police Commander, Pol Maj Gen Ongart Phiuruangnont, announced at a press conference this morning (October 17) regarding the SuperCheap fire that there is still no confirmation of what might have started the blaze.

Gov Maitree speaks to reporters at the scene of the fire this morning.

The SuperCheap megastore on Thepkrassatri Rd burned to the ground in a huge fire last night around 9.40pm. There are still no official reports of anyone injured or dead, though one woman has been reported missing.

Maj Gen Ongart told the media that police could not confirm the cause of the fire.

“Media and press, please don’t ask me because I can’t give you an answer. We have to wait until the Forensic Science Department check the area. The actual cause of the fire might be part of any potential court case.”

Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut said the fire was now under control and the “next step” was organising the situation.

“Also, the media and press should report on the actual facts of this situation – what is true and what is confirmed by officials.”

No other details were provided but Gov Maitree might have been referring to a set of photos of dead bodies which were shared around social media last night, linking the photos to the SuperCheap fire. These were understood to have actually been taken in 2009 following the Santika nightclub fire in Bangkok in 2009, where 66 people were killed.

Deputy Police Commander, Pol Col Peerayuth Garajedi, told the press, “Before go into the scene, we have to consider safety first. I can confirm that so far nothing has been confirmed or reported about any injured or dead.

“At the moment members of the police force are rotating. We will help to ease the traffic flow and control the entrance to the site and protect the area. Also, we will have to question relevant witnesses to conclude the cause of the fire.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/still-no-news-on-phuket-supercheap-blaze-cause-42413.php

-- Phuket News 2013-10-17

So still spreading the rumour there are at least 60 dead?

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[catweazle]

A very sad and shocking disaster, that was just waiting to happen. RIP to the victims and families as I am quite sure there will be plenty despite the "official" no victims talk.

Whenever I was at Supercheap with my family, I always said to my wife that this cow-barn-alike "building" will be a perfect death trap if there ever will be a fire. I hated shopping there and tried to avoid it whenever possible. Always had a bad feeling about the place and got claustophobia and kind of panic attacks when I ended up in one of those rice corners at the very end of the hall when losing orientation. There never were any sprinklers or any other emergency installations as far as I could see, and it always looked completely unorganized and shoddy - i.e. gas tanks next to motor oil and styrofoam boxes. This mixed with the hand-made electrical wiring in there was the perfect cocktail to feed a major fire like this one. The staff at the exits then used to make my day by digging through the purchased items, ticking them off on the invoice meticulously one by one, making you feel like a homeless shoplifter just being caught stealing. I simply hated the place from the very first day I ever went there onwards. Going to buy something at Supercheap for me was comparable to having to visit the dentist.

I hope that nobody was killed there, but as I mentioned before, I fear for the worst and would estimate that at least 100 people perished in that huge fire. Hope I am wrong.

The only good thing is that this disgusting cow-barn is finally gone and thus does not pose a threat to anyone anymore (especially since there is a gas station located right next to this property). Hopefully, this incident will result in stiffer safety measures to be implemented for shops and shopping centers, but since we are in Thailand, this will remain wishful thinking at best.

Would be great to see that the owners of Supercheap, who are responsible for this, will be punished accordingly. This certainly would happen if the owners were foreigners, but as for Thai owners - again - this is Thailand...

What an unneccessary major clusterf#$$

Edited October 17, 2013 by catweazle

[JetsetBkk]

I'm truly amazed that so few people have been reported missing. It seems there would be little chance for anyone stuck in that maze to have gotten out

<snip>

It took me ten years to find my way around that place. I will miss it. You could find things there that you didn't even know you needed. It was the place I used to buy 5 kilo bags of peanuts - the monkeys up Khao Toe Sae will go hungry now.

I do not want to believe this.... IF this is true, they should lock the staff that was closing the doors, in a little building, close the doors and put it on fire!!! It is MURDER!

...and that's why your name is "JulesMad".

[NamKangMan]

Still no news on Phuket SuperCheap blaze cause

Naraporn Tuarob

PHUKET: -- The island’s Provincial Police Commander, Pol Maj Gen Ongart Phiuruangnont, announced at a press conference this morning (October 17) regarding the SuperCheap fire that there is still no confirmation of what might have started the blaze.

Gov Maitree speaks to reporters at the scene of the fire this morning.

The SuperCheap megastore on Thepkrassatri Rd burned to the ground in a huge fire last night around 9.40pm. There are still no official reports of anyone injured or dead, though one woman has been reported missing.

Maj Gen Ongart told the media that police could not confirm the cause of the fire.

“Media and press, please don’t ask me because I can’t give you an answer. We have to wait until the Forensic Science Department check the area. The actual cause of the fire might be part of any potential court case.”

Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut said the fire was now under control and the “next step” was organising the situation.

“Also, the media and press should report on the actual facts of this situation – what is true and what is confirmed by officials.”

No other details were provided but Gov Maitree might have been referring to a set of photos of dead bodies which were shared around social media last night, linking the photos to the SuperCheap fire. These were understood to have actually been taken in 2009 following the Santika nightclub fire in Bangkok in 2009, where 66 people were killed.

Deputy Police Commander, Pol Col Peerayuth Garajedi, told the press, “Before go into the scene, we have to consider safety first. I can confirm that so far nothing has been confirmed or reported about any injured or dead.

“At the moment members of the police force are rotating. We will help to ease the traffic flow and control the entrance to the site and protect the area. Also, we will have to question relevant witnesses to conclude the cause of the fire.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/still-no-news-on-phuket-supercheap-blaze-cause-42413.php

-- Phuket News 2013-10-17

So still spreading the rumour there are at least 60 dead?

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

There's a rumour going around that nobody was killed.

Do you believe it????

[phuketsub]

Still no mention anywhere of the environmental toll, which is horrendous. This is a Third World version of a nuclear bomb. I woke up my family last night when the toxic smoke column was approaching our house and we all slept down at Saphan Hin until the atmospheric conditions changed...

[phuketjock]

It's heartening to see everyone waiting for the facts to emerge before jumping to

conclusions then.