A blaze that broke out at a Chon Buri pub in early August has claimed its 25th life. A 26 year old woman named as Parichart Kwanyuenyong has succumbed to her injuries after 72 days of hospital treatment in intensive care. She had sustained severe burns while trying to escape the fire at the Mountain B pub in Sattahip on August 5.
According to a Nation Thailand report, Parichart had been drinking at the pub with friends when the fire broke out. With all other exits locked, she managed to get out the front door, but sustained severe burns to 85% of her skin. Initially rushed to Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital, she was transferred to Chulalongkorn Hospital the following day.
Parichart underwent 72 days of treatment, during which she contracted a blood infection and suffered lung and kidney failure. She was placed on dialysis but there was no improvement and her body did not respond to treatment. It’s understood that doctors took the decision to stop treatment on Saturday and Parichart was pronounced dead yesterday morning.
The fire at the Mountain B pub killed 13 people on the night itself, with another 12 succumbing to their injuries in the days, weeks, and months that followed. The tragedy is the latest in a long list of fire disasters in Thailand, in which health and safety rules were ignored.
In 2009, a blaze broke out during a New Year’s Eve party at Bangkok’s Santika Pub, killing 67 people and severely injuring another 32. A subsequent investigation found that there were no fire exits or any emergency lighting at the venue. Both the owner of the pub, Wisuk Setsawat, and the owner of the company hired to install a lighting system, Boonchu Laosinart, were sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment.
Following the Mountain B tragedy in August, an investigation found that all fire escapes were locked and the front door was the only escape route for everyone caught up in the fire. The venue had also used rubber tyres for sound-proofing, which caught fire and dripped on customers below.
A case for compensation filed by the victims’ relatives is currently with the Pattaya Court. What remained of the venue was demolished at the weekend.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
