The death toll from the fire in early August at a nightclub near the tourist city of Pattaya, one of the deadliest in Thailand in recent years, has risen to 20, authorities said Friday night. The incident happened on the night of August 4th to 5th in “Mountain B”, a nightclub around 180 kilometers south-east of the capital.
Rescue workers found 13 charred bodies at the facility and seven people died from their injuries, health officials in Chonburi province, where the tragedy struck, said. The latest identified victim is a 50-year-old man, according to the same source. All have Thai nationality. 25 people are still being treated, including 9 on respiratory support.
A father and his son are accused of the facts
The presence of acoustic foam on the walls, intended to isolate the building from outside noise, helped the fire spread. It took firefighters more than three hours to bring it under control.
A Chonburi provincial police official confirmed on Saturday that the nightclub’s owners, a father and son, have been charged with reckless homicide and operating an unlicensed facility. “They could face further charges related to building security and employee welfare,” he told AFP. Both were released on bail by the district court, he said. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha has ordered an investigation.