A 54 year old teacher has shared with all media the news that her 23 year old daughter Atitaya is the latest of the burns victims to die, from the horrendous bar club fire at Mountain B in Sattahip. Bringing the count to 19 and with the prospect of more deaths as close to two dozen other survivors are said to be suffering from massive burns injuries and in any cases kept alive only on life support. Her family could only watch as with an estimated 90% burns, she was transferred to Chonburi where she remained in agony and on a ventilator for 10 days. Atitaya was at the club only because her boyfriend was DJ for the evening. He died in the fire. Her mother’s last words, as she passed away were ‘may you be born as my daughter in your next life’.
Monday saw police issue a warrant for the father of the so called club owner, with claims that it was the father and not his son that owned the businesses and, whereas the 20 something son has little in the way of assets and may have simply been the playboy front for the business, Dad is a well heeled local with multiple businesses.
As we reported yesterday, another survivor, Dinh Kim Le is clinging on to life with 80% burns and has racked up hospital bills close to 700K baht yet is receiving no compensation to cover them, forcing friends and family to set up donation pages which so far have gleaned 200K baht.
STILL no word on any effective insurance coverage for patrons, still no word on the official forensics testing on building materials and still an almost wipe with a wet rag approach to checking other venues in the Chonburi province. Any detailed check WOULD REVEAL clubs and venues, even in Pattaya City that do NOT meet the fire regulations in place to ensure public safety. With some having narrow hallway entrances to packed dance areas, even on Walking Street and others having no effective fire escapes, whilst we did chat to one club owner who does have multiple fire exits and does have emergency equipment in place in his business who is also disgusted by the nonchalant response by others. Authorities, including the fire department are being urged by all to do something and properly inspect all premises, issuing fire safety certificates before this happens again. Bangkok authorities closed over 100 venues within a very short time insisting on re inspection before allowing them to reopen, with others given warnings and time to make fixes. With the guarantee that a combination of outraged media and social media users ensuring that safety in venues will remain a headline.
The Energy Regulatory Commission has approved an 18% rise in the price of electricity for the September-December quarter, to a record-high 4.72 baht per unit, this despite reports that the PM had proferred subsidies to prevent the hike that will without doubt see everyones power bills rise AND the cost of goods manufactured or even just retailed here rise. Word is that the energy ministry is working on a fix for those on lower incomes.
Su chi, the 77 year old former Burmese official, now a political prisoner held by the military government there, has been sentenced to a further 6 years for corruption, adding that to her current 11 year sentence. Once hailed as the bright light of the future for Burma, she was years ago released from home detention and allowed back into politics, only to prove herself not quite up to the task of keeping her promise to aid the downtrodden. That, however, has nothing to do with her treatment since or indeed now, with word that unlike in the past she is in a jail facility and NOT just house arrest.
Meanwhile at home and in our own city, a man was arrested as he attempted to flee an altercation in his BMW but not before he attempted to beat up police officers. The 42 year old Thai man had been in an altercation with a Thai couple, possibly over a debt, and at some point revealed a handgun in his belt. That noted by a passing cop, he called the issue into the control room, others were dispatched and a car chase ensued which saw the BMW wrapped around a telegraph pole in Nongprue, him arrested and a handgun, along with 40 rounds, removed from the vehicle.
Photo Credit: Khao Sod
Thirteen of the remaining injured from the Mountain B fire in Sattahip have asked that the case be taken over by the CSD and removed from the hands of local authorities. A lawyer representing them told the media that they had additional evidence and were concerned that the case would be brushed under the carpet with just a handful of local officials moved to their positions.
A Swedish man is on the run after reportedly stabbing his boyfriend and a third man. Seems the 60 year old stabbed both in a condo in View Talay 2, Jomtien, he was convinced that the two Thai men were carrying on together. Both were hospitalized and his details have been forwarded to all border controls in an attempt to stop him fleeing the country.
If there wasn’t enough weird and sad news on the books right now.. Well, one westerner showed more than modesty normally allowed as he paraded through the city , pretty much as his mother first saw him, albeit fatter, taller and with wrinkles. Police arrested the man who continued to scream and shout even when housed in a Soi 9 cell. No word on what he was on but for sure his clothes were off. Duly clad by a police team with at least a blanket, he faces assessment this morning.
Thailand & Pattaya News, from Fabulous 103fm (15 August 2022) A week on from the disastrous fire that burned out a pub club in Sattahip, authorities announced the passing at the weekend of the 18th victim, this time a 17 year old girl. Despite being 3 years under the legal age of entry to a drinking venue, the club owners have denied that underage customers were allowed access. Prior to her passing, surgeons had made every attempt to save her […]
Post comments (0)