Building design faults have been partly blamed for the deaths of 67 people during a fire at a New Year’s Eve party in a Bangkok nightclub
Four people have been formally charged with gross negligence over the fire, in which 200 people, including tourists from Australia, Britain and France, were injured.
Faults in the building’s design have been partly blamed for the extent of the damage. A shortage of fire exits, bars on the second storey windows, no sprinkler system and no emergency lights contributed to the devastation caused by the fire, the investigation found.
The club had been operating in a zone where nightclubs were banned and the city architect’s signature approving the architectural design had been forged, the court was told.
The club had also been registered as a private residence, rather than an entertainment venue, and so had not been subject to safety inspections.
Oliver Smart, a 35-year-old British tourist who was injured in the fire, said it had been a “devastating experience” and he will have to be on medication for the rest of his life.
“I hope the investigations highlight the importance of health and safety measures and regulations and help to prevent anything like this from happening again,” he told The Press Association.
