Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

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Jun

Re: Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

Post by Jun »

The Pattaya News wrote: Sun Aug 07, 2022 2:17 pm According to Mr. Naris, a short circuit by the music stage caused an explosion
Dodger wrote: Sun Aug 07, 2022 9:19 am Not only do you have to manage the "materials" but you have to watch them performing their work at every stage to make sure things are done right. I've seen Thai electricians (tongue in cheek) install wiring in outlet boxes without even insulating the connections...or better yet, attempting to install breaker boxes which weren't even rated correctly for the line usage in the building.
A short circuit should just trip the circuit breaker and not be a major hazard.
However, if as Dodger suggests, they fit a circuit breaker with a higher current capacity than the cable, that's a problem.

I remember on my one and only visit to Baan Dok Mai, the fuse would blow if the temperature on the shower was turned up to a reasonable level. So clearly people doing installations don't always ensure the supply is suitable for the appliance. Admittedly, an under sized fuse is far safer than under-sized supply cable, or other defects.
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Re: Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

Post by Gaybutton »

Jun wrote: Sun Aug 07, 2022 3:10 pm A short circuit should
Should. When applied to anything in Thailand, that's my favorite word . . .
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Re: Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

Post by Gaybutton »

This guy wants bail? I think if he's really lucky it won't be granted. If he is released on bail and family and friends of the victims get their hands on him, does anyone need me to tell what is likely to happen next?
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Fatal fire pub owner detained, admits guilt

Bail to be sought at court Monday

by Chaiyot Pupattanapong

August 7, 2022

The owner of the Sattahip pub that burned down early on Friday morning, killing 15, is under detention at a police station after he reported to police on Saturday night. His lawyer said his client had confessed to all charges.

Pongsiri Panprasong, 27, reported to Phlu Ta Luang police. He was promptly escorted into the police station building without talking to meda gathered outside.

The detention took place soon after the Pattaya Provincial Court signed an arrest warrant for him on the following two charges.

* Negligent acts that cause the death of other persons
* Operating a nightspot without permission

The pub that burned down, Mountain B, was registered as a restaurant.

Mr Pongsiri was taken to the cells at the police station after hours of interrogations with no bail allowed by the police.

Lawyer Anucha Wongsrisat said his client had confessed to the charges and he will request bail approval from the court on Monday by depositing 1 million baht in cash as surety.

An inferno gutted the pub in Sattahip district of Chon Buri at 1am on Friday, killing 15 people and injuring 38, some of them seriously. At least 100 pub-goers were packed inside Mountain B when the fire tbroke out, prompting them to flee for their lives.

The blaze began in a roof over a performance stage before it quickly spread to other areas. Investigators are trying to determine the exact cause of the tragedy.

The lawyer said Mr Anucha promised to pay the families of the dead 50,000 baht each, with 10,000 baht for each person injured.

Many families have complained that they had not been contacted by the pub owner to them since the deadly fire.

The owner's wife, Anongnart, 31, said she and her husband did not escape their responsibility and helped the nightlife revellers that night.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... mits-guilt
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Owner of Mountain B pub in Sattahip that caught fire and killed 15 people arrested and charged, more compensation coming for victims

By Nop Meechukhun

7 August, 2022

The owner of the Mountain B pub that caught fire last week (August 5th) and killed 15 people, injuring dozens of others, has been arrested and charged.

An arrest warrant for Mr. Pongsiri ‘B’ Panprasong, 28, had been issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court yesterday (August 6th). B later presented himself to the Plu Taluang Police. B is facing charges with causing deaths due to reckless behavior and operating a nightclub without a proper license.

Sia B, as the owner is also known, currently does not have bail and will face a first court appearance tomorrow, Monday, August 8th. He remains in police custody over the weekend.

According to Mr. Anucha Wongsrirat, Sia B’s lawyer, Mountain B will provide compensation for victims and the injured at 50,000 baht for the deceased and 10,000 baht for the injured, per person. This is on top of any government compensation previously announced. Those who feel they qualify for compensation can contact Mountain B through their Facebook page which has staff assisting.

Mr. Anucha stated that Sia B was in a “difficult” mental place currently and grieving for the victims. Mr. Anucha stated that a request for bail in the form of one million baht would be made later this week and that Sia B was not a flight risk, noting that Sia B turned himself in to authorities.

Thai police say they will hold every single person accountable for the fire and deaths and be fully transparent with their sentences.

https://tpnnational.com/2022/08/07/owne ... r-victims/
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Owner of Sattahip pub inferno arrested; 15 confirmed dead, 38 injured

By Pattaya Mail

August 7, 2022

Police have taken Pongsiri Punprasong the owner of the Mountan B Pub into custody after the provincial court in Pattaya issued a warrant for his arrest.

Pongsiri is charged with negligence for building and operating an entertainment venue without a license and for gross negligence resulting in the deaths of others.

The latest report of casualties stands at 15 deaths including 11 men and 4 women with 38 injured.

Sattahip District chief and senior police officers in the Sattahip police station were relieved of their duties pending further investigation into how the pub was allowed to be built and operate without a license and how it was allowed to operate without any safety and fire prevention controls in place.

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/owner- ... red-405974
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Sattahip district chief, senior police officers sacked following deadly pub fire

By Pattaya Mail

August 7, 2022

The fatal incident of flames rage through the Mountain B pub in Sattahip on Friday (Aug 5) night killing 15 people including 11 men and 4 women with 38 injured had made an effect on men on duties.

Sattahip District chief and senior police officers in the Sattahip police station were immediately discharged of their duties pending further investigation into how the pub was allowed to be built and operate without a license and how it was allowed to operate without any safety and fire prevention controls in place.

Pol Maj-Gen Attasit Kitjaharn, commander of Chonburi provincial police, ordered the immediate transfer of five senior police officers attached to the Phlu Ta Luang police station over the fatal fire.

The five officers transferred to the special operations centre of Chonburi provincial police are the superintendent, Pol Col Wuttipong Somjai, his two deputies, Pol Lt-Col Somsak Ruying and Pol Lt-Col Torwong Sakkulawong, Pol Maj Somaya Chusukphonyiam, the inspector for crime suppression, and Pol Lt-Col Yutthana Songkrasant, the inspector of investigations.

The sudden transfers are handed down as a punishment for their alleged failures in doing their jobs by allowing the Mountain B pub to operate beyond midnight.

And on the same day, the district chief officer of Sattahip district, Chatchai Sripo-on, was moved to the Institute of Administration Development under the Provincial Administration Department.

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/sattah ... ire-405982
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Re: Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

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TPN National wrote: Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:56 pm Thai police say they will hold every single person accountable for the fire and deaths and be fully transparent with their sentences.
I wonder what sentences the Sattahip Police Officers will receive for their "criminal neglect" charges.

It's impossible for a frosted glass to ever be fully transparent, especially when standing in a prism of smoke and mirrors.

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Re: Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

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Dodger wrote: Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:57 am I wonder what sentences the Sattahip Police Officers will receive for their "criminal neglect" charges.
As far as I know, at the time of this post they have yet to be charged with anything at all. I think this time due to all the publicity and the usual worrying about "good image" they'll be charged and the sentence will be much more than a slap on the wrist. However, if they admit to their wrongdoing, Thai courts usually cut criminal sentences by half.

One thing I find laughable is the idea of fire drills. Just who will be training staff members what to do in case of fire? Will it be someone competent and with the proper qualifications to do so? How often will they conduct these drills and how long will it be before those drills fade into history? And what about venues with high turnover rates? Who trains the newcomers - if they get trained at all?

Does anyone truly believe that if you are in a venue that catches fire, the staff will do their best to get everyone out as safely as possible? Or is it more likely they will panic and try to be the first ones out the door? Those venues with the pushy mama-sans - who do you think will be the first one out the door?

I think you better take responsibility for your own safety. I think it is far more probable that if you are unfortunate enough to be in a venue that catches fire, you're on your own.
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Re: Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

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Foam panel company used in Mountain B nightclub claims they used fire-retardant foam panels, blames tires used to reduce vibration

By Tanakorn Panyadee

8 August, 2022

The company hired to install sound-absorbing foam panels at the Mountain B nightclub claims that they used high-quality, fire-retardant foam panels and denied allegations made by various parties that they did not.

The owner of the Kool Insulation company, Pichet Thinon, came out yesterday, August 7th, to defend his company in response to allegations that his company’s foam panels used at the Mountain B nightclub were attributed to the fire that killed fifteen people and injured dozens.

“Our company was hired to install the foam panels at that pub last year and got paid 300,000 baht for our services,” Pichet stated. “We used a material called ‘PU Foam’, which is fire-retardant and soundproof. It is a high-quality material that even gets safety certificates in Germany.”

Pichet carried on that he had been running his business for 10 years and used his products in numerous industrial plants and nightclubs. None ever caught on fire, he added while showing footage of his product not catching on fire although he tried to burn it.

Instead, Pichet suspected that the Mountain B operators had reportedly placed tires on top of the foam panels to reduce vibration and this might be the leading cause of the fire.

Investigators are reviewing Pichet’s statements and claims.

https://thepattayanews.com/2022/08/08/f ... vibration/
Jun

Re: Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

Post by Jun »

The Pattaya News wrote: Mon Aug 08, 2022 3:29 pm Pichet stated. “We used a material called ‘PU Foam’, which is fire-retardant and soundproof. It is a high-quality material that even gets safety certificates in Germany.”
PU foam is flammable, although there are fire retardant grades. So I presume he meant to say that they fitted one of those.

I would hope someone is investigating the electrical system, if any evidence remains.
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Re: Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

Post by Gaybutton »

Jun wrote: Mon Aug 08, 2022 4:03 pm I would hope someone is investigating the electrical system, if any evidence remains.
I would also hope they are investigating the veracity of what we're being told. We're getting conflicting information, meaning that's what the reporters were told, or just bad reporting, or somebody is lying. Of course, it could be all three . . .

Something definitely seems strange to me. If, as the foam company insists, the foam was fire retardant, then why did it burn as fast as it did? And that man's statement about tires being used to reduce vibration - that's the first I've seen anything about tires. And if it was tires, since when would a short or a spark turn tires into a sudden inferno? I've never heard of anything like that. I'm not trying to be an amateur sleuth, but it would be nice if the stories would at least gel and make sense.
Jun

Re: Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

Post by Jun »

Gaybutton wrote: Mon Aug 08, 2022 7:29 pm I would also hope they are investigating the veracity of what we're being told. We're getting conflicting information, meaning that's what the reporters were told, or just bad reporting, or somebody is lying. Of course, it could be all three . . .
All three seems very feasible to me. Particularly if people are appropriately incentivised.
As for investigating the veracity, I gather people can be done for libel even when reporting the truth in Thailand. So that wouldn't exactly encourage deep investigative reporting.

Gaybutton wrote: Mon Aug 08, 2022 7:29 pm If, as the foam company insists, the foam was fire retardant, then why did it burn as fast as it did?
If the installer claims a specific type of foam was used, the fire retardant additive should be shown on the data sheet. So can they find evidence of that retardant existing in
(i) The charred mess
(ii) Any unburnt foam (if there is any)
(iii) Other installations done by the same company ?

Gaybutton wrote: Mon Aug 08, 2022 7:29 pm And that man's statement about tires being used to reduce vibration - that's the first I've seen anything about tires. And if it was tires, since when would a short or a spark turn tires into a sudden inferno?
Rubber sheeting is sold for noise absorption. Also, rubber has hysteresis, which means it has natural damping properties. So that part is plausible.

A spark shouldn't set rubber on fire.

However, any short where the circuit breakers don't do their job could get very hot and set surrounding material on fire.
Dodger has already mentioned he's seen cases where Thais haven't used the correct size circuit breakers for the wiring, so that leaves a very good chance of a fire if something goes wrong. If you have a 32A circuit breaker in an installation where for instance, 6, 10 or 20 A should be used, then if there's a short circuit, you potentially have up to 7 kW of power running through the line until something does melt.
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Re: Major fire in Sattahip pub kills 13, injures 41

Post by Gaybutton »

Mountain B nightclub owner released on bail with conditions, wife says he is not a sacrificial goat for others

By Goongnang Suksawat

8 August, 2022

The owner of a nightclub where a fire last week killed fifteen people and injured dozens was released on bail this afternoon, August 8th, 2022.

Pongsiri Panprasong, 27, known by his nickname of Sia B, the owner of the Mountain B nightclub where fifteen people died in a tragic fire last week, was released on 300,00 baht bail this afternoon around 3:00 P.M, August 8th, 2022.

As part of the condition of his bail he must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and not tamper with evidence. He must also make multiple court appearances. In granting the bail the court noted that Sia B turned himself in, admitted to the charges laid before him, promised responsibility, and was fully cooperative with the court.

Sia B is currently charged with operating a club without a proper license and reckless endangerment that led to death.

His wife, Anongnat Panprasong, 31, told the press that rumors that her husband was a goat and being sacrificed by other “secret” owners or investors associated with the venue was false and her husband was the sole owner and took full responsibility. This follows widespread chatter on social media from netizens, without concrete proof or evidence, claiming Sia B was a sacrificial goat for other individuals.

Sia B expressed remorse for the victims in brief statements to the press while leaving court and stated he was fully accountable and responsible and would financially support the victims.

https://tpnnational.com/2022/08/08/moun ... or-others/
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I'll say this for him - it took guts for him to face the families, no matter whether it was on his own volition or by legal advice.
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Mountain B’s owner attends victim’s funeral in Sattahip after being released on bail, visiting eight more funerals today

By Tanakorn Panyadee

9 August, 2022

The Mountain B’s owner, “Sia B,” attended the victim’s funeral to apologize to the family and relatives after being released on bail yesterday, August 8th. Mountain B is the nightclub that burned down last week, killing fifteen people and injuring dozens.

After being freed by the Pattaya Court with 300,000-baht bail, Sia B or Pongsiri Panprasong traveled to Wat Sattahip in the Sattahip district where a 17-year-old boy’s funeral was being held to apologize to the family and relatives of the young victim.

His wife, Anongnart Panprasong, 31, accompanied Sia B and also offered her condolences to the mournful family before giving 50,000 baht in cash to the mother of the deceased boy to proceed with the funeral arrangements.

The boy’s mother Rampai, 37, stated that her son was studying in the 11th grade at Sing Samut Sattahip School and passed away in the flames. Neither Sia B nor she addressed why the boy was able to enter the nightclub despite the obvious age restriction, as in Thailand the limit for entry to nightlife is twenty.

Sia B and his wife then left the ceremony, saying they would travel to eight funerals around Sattahip district today, August 9th, to pay their respects and compensation.

Story and photos: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/08/09/m ... als-today/
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