Several bars and nightclubs fail fire safety inspections in Pattaya, Thailand

Authorities ramped up fire safety inspections at entertainment venues in Pattaya following the tragic Mountain B nightclub fire in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district last month. The tragedy claimed the lives of 22 people, 13 on the night of the fire and nine more who died in hospital in the weeks that followed.

The tragedy would have been avoided if the nightclub met fire safety standards. The venue had one, small, locked exit preventing a quick evacuation and flammable soundproofing panels lining the club which caused the fire to spread in seconds. The venue was unlicensed and didn’t have fire insurance.

In the hope of preventing such a tragedy from happening again, Chon Buri province authorities conducted fire safety inspections at bars and nightclubs on Pattaya’s Walking Street in Bang Lamung district yesterday. The inspections focused on whether fire exits and fire extinguishing equipment was up to safety standard.

However, the inspections revealed that at several venues, the fire exits were “not practical.” Several exits were obstructed and would not facilitate a swift evacuation in the event of a fire, said officials. Some venues only had one fire exit, which is not enough for successful evacuation, they said.

The authorities didn’t name and shame any particular venues but said that all venues that failed the inspection would need to make the proper adjustments and improvements to their venues before they were allowed to open to Walking Street revellers again.

Pattaya’s notorious Walking Street continues to make headlines. On Monday, a gang of food vendors attacked a “European tourist” with a metal chair after he allegedly didn’t pay for his meal at 4am on Walking Street.

On Wednesday, an Indian tourist told Pattaya Police that two ladyboys on Walking Street robbed him of 12,000 baht cash and his debit card after he “rejected their services.”

SOURCE: Daily News