Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Thai officials struggle to identify fire victims
By DENIS D. GRAY,Associated Press Writer AP - 24 minutes ago
BANGKOK, Thailand - Forensics experts in Thailand struggled to identify charred corpses while 26 victims were still receiving emergency medical care Saturday following a New Year's Eve fire in a packed Bangkok nightclub.
The death toll stood at 61 on Saturday although a final list of casualties, which include a number of foreigners, has yet to be issued, the Narenthorn Emergency Center coordinating the medical aid operation said.
Dr. Chatree Charoencheewakul at the center said two more deaths were reported Friday night, while 26 people still in intensive care units at several Bangkok hospitals. Police were still trying to identify 15 bodies.
Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul said Friday that the fire could further damage the country's image, already battered by widespread political protests and a recent weeklong closure of the capital's two airports. The unrest has crippled the country's essential tourism industry at a time when the economy was already sagging amid the global financial meltdown.
The statement came as police investigated the cause of the fire. Police Maj. Gen. Jongrak Jutanont said authorities were focusing on whether the blaze was sparked by a countdown fireworks display organized by the club owners or by firecrackers brought in by guests.
A Singaporean was among the dead, while injured foreigners were from Australia, Belgium, Britain, France, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United States, according to officials and reporters.
More than 200 were injured from smoke inhalation, burns and injuries sustained during a stampede out the one main door of the club, which catered to young well-to-do Thais, tourists and expatriates.
"It's about the lax law enforcement which we need to strengthen," Charnvirakul told reporters while visiting victims at Chulalongkorn Hospital. "But an accident like this can happen everywhere and in every country. But I really don't want this to happen because it came from carelessness."
No charges related to the fire have yet been filed, but the owner, Thai-Chinese businessman Wisuth Setsawat, was initially charged with allowing underage customers into the Santika Club, Jongrak said. A 17-year-old high school student was found among the dead, he said.
Local newspapers said Wisuth has asked the police to delay his interrogation until he recovers from injuries sustained in the blaze.
The government's insurance commission said it was likely that the club had not renewed its fire insurance, which expired before the incident.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Thai officials struggle to identify fire victimsAP - 24 minutes ago
Thousands displaced by floods in Philippines: officialsAFP - 28 minutes ago
Sri Lanka army pushes farther into rebel territoryAP - 43 minutes ago
Thai New Year road deaths toll hits 278: ministryAFP - 1 hour 18 minutes ago
Five die in China chemical plant explosion: state mediaAFP - 2 hours 1 minute ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Rare Bugatti untouched for 50 years could fetch millions: report
World's oldest person dies at the age of 115
Paulson blames global imbalances for credit crisis: report
Vogue editor biggest fashion flop of 08: Time
Sri Lankan troops capture Tamil rebel capital
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular