Phuket Opinion: SuperCheap inferno inevitable
Phuket Gazette -

MIRACLE ON THEPKRASATTRI STREET: Just one thing left to tidy it all up. Image: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: We find astonishing the surprising lack of reaction to the catastrophe that took place last week, when the entire SuperCheap complex on Thepkrasattri Road in Rassada went up in a fireball more closely resembling a World War II firebombing than a scene on a tropical resort island.

The fire was predicted in this space just 14 months ago . Writing in the aftermath of the Tiger Disco blaze that claimed the lives of four people , we commented on the inevitable “crackdown” of fire safety measures at other nightspots on the island that ensued as follows: “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.”

While we could not name the outlet directly for legal reasons, any long-time island resident with two brain cells to rub together would have known precisely which was being referred to.

Despite the obvious dangers, it appears that nothing had been done to prevent such a disaster. Successive administrations of Rassada mayors did nothing, one apparently more interested in fighting the opening of the new bus terminal nearby. The dangers must have been just as obvious to the so-called “experts” at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket Office, as well as officers at other agencies with jurisdiction. Why didn’t they do their jobs? Why doesn’t the public hold them accountable for endangering lives? As a society we are remarkably fast to protest when our vested interests are at stake, but what interests could possibly be more valuable than our lives?

If indeed no lives were lost in this calamity, it is a near miracle of fortunate timing (story here). The fire broke out near closing time, when most inside were employees who knew the fastest ways out of the confusing, ramshackle complex.

Equally fortuitous were atmospheric conditions on the night of the blaze. The night was virtually cloudless and wind-free, very unusual at this time of year. This allowed smoke and toxic fumes to rise quickly straight up into the upper atmosphere, at least on the first night of the blaze – which continued to smolder for days.

Had strong winds prevailed, the fire could easily have spread to a nearby gas station, electricity sub-station and numerous other commercial ventures where even more toxic chemicals are stored. Had an inversion layer trapped smoke and toxic fumes near the ground, it could have been the worst fire tragedy in the island’s history.

The Gazette gives credit to all the brave firefighters who managed to largely contain the blaze, but we condemn the scores of elected leaders and appointed officials with jurisdiction who allowed the dangers at the site to persist for so many years until the inevitable occurred.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Opinion-SuperCheap-inferno-inevitable-22606.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-10-27

"The fire was predicted in this space just 14 months ago"

Does anyone (in Phuket) care? No...

Have Phuket learned their lesson? No...

Anyone surprised? No...

My prediction: there will be another big fire in Phuket in the next 14 months...

Will things change in Phuket? No...

If some-one already has been at SuperCheap (not cheaper at all) can understand everything. These were a favella + tent + hut + shack + sty + lean to-roof and shambles together under electricity. So ...... what is the question ?