Phuket Tiger Disco fire: Police identify two Thai women as victims

PHUKET: Forensics experts at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok have officially announced the names of two more victims of the Tiger Discotheque fire in Phuket last Friday.

Dr Bhawat Prateepvisrut, a forensic pathologist at the institute, confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today that two of the four bodies recovered from the scorched nightclub had been identified as those of Thai nationals Duangporn Budklor, 34, and Nipaphat Sudtasorn, 36.

“The Patong Police Investigations Inspector responsible for the case collected DNA samples from the women’s parents and the women’s personal belongings, such as combs and nail clippers, and sent them to us.

“The tests took two days and the results have shown a match of the parents’ DNA and the DNA samples from the bodies,” said Dr Bhawat.

Dr Bhawat confirmed that a third DNA test for the still unidentified male body found at the disco was underway.

“Confirming the identification of the fourth victim will take more time, because we have not received DNA samples from the family,” he said.

“However, we do have DNA samples from the personal items collected by police [of the Frenchman believed to be the victim]. We expect the results from these tests to be available within the coming week,” Dr Bhawat added.

The first victim to be officially identified was British national Michael Tzouvanni, 24.

— Orawin Narabal