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6 Jan 2009

Fire in Bangkok gay sauna kills patron

One man was killed and 36 others injured as a massive blaze swept through a shopping and residential complex in Bangkok's Chinatown district on Sunday night, just days after a fire at a nightclub in the Thai capital claimed dozens.

A 45-year-old man was killed in fire that razed through a popular sauna in Sua Pa Plaza on Bangkok's Charoen Krung road in Pom Prab district.

Third image from the top shows a GSM Guesthouse signboard from a Youtube video; last image shows men in towels being rescued by a firetruck published on The Nation web site.
Bangkok's The Nation newspaper reported that the victim - identified by the police as Sanguan Saenkaew - was found by rescue workers on the seventh floor of the building early Monday morning. He is believed to be a patron of GSM Sauna at the time of the fire. Reports say about 60 fire engines fought the blaze which took hours to put out.

The blaze was reported to have started at about 8.30pm on Sunday night. Some 100 people were evacuated from the nine-storey building via two firetruck ladders and a helicopter.

The sauna - said to be popular among locals and travelers from Hong Kong and Taiwan - also operated a massage parlour on the fourth floor and guesthouse on the sixth floor.

The incident follows a fire that killed at least 64 partygoers at Santika, an upscale Bangkok nightclub which was full to its 1,000-person capacity on New Year's Eve.

The country's building and fire code standards has been called into question as police revealed that Santika had been refused a licence as an "entertainment venue" since 2004 due to safety concerns but it remained legally open as a restaurant while appealing that decision. It has also emerged that the club had no emergency lighting or sprinkler system, had only one door for entry and exit known to patrons and there were bars on the windows.

A Singaporean, who was in the Thai capital over the New Year's Eve holidays and saw the fire engines on the streets, told Fridae that he shudders to consider a similar fate befalling Silom Soi 2 or 4 - well known clusters of crowded gay bars and clubs located on narrow dead-end lanes.

"It's the main reason why I never go to DJ Station anymore and haven't been for the last five years," said the 30-something businessman who prefers not to be named.

"Fire safety codes are evidently not enforced at many venues, including many clubs, bars and saunas frequented by the gay community. Patrons should exercise caution and voice their concerns to the staff and management of such establishments."

Another commented on a gay news list: "Fire safety and precautions in many of the 30 or so gay saunas in BKK are crappy. I even don't know how to get out of the darkroom in a fire."

Thailand

Reader's Comments

1. 2009-01-06 20:43  
I totally agree.... if so unfortunate, those clubs at Silom Soi 2 can be possible death trap. Everyone knows that except hoping nothing will happen.
Comment #2 was deleted by its author
3. 2009-01-06 20:49  
I agree with the comment made by the 30-something in the article. I've been to Bkk only 4 times . . and DJ Station only once and that is plenty enough. I found myself on the third floor (and packed) and suddenly started to wonder where do I get out when a fire breaks out? There is no way out at all . . .
4. 2009-01-06 21:26  
"Fire safety and precautions in many of the 30 or so gay saunas in BKK are crappy. I even don't know how to get out of the darkroom without a fire."

he doesn't know how to get out of a darkroom without a fire? LOLS.
Comment #5 was deleted by its author
6. 2009-01-06 21:29  
同样的事情 上海差点也就发生。。。
Comment #7 was deleted by its author
8. 2009-01-06 21:37  
Here's a photographic look of fire exits at DJ Station:

http://gayboythailand.com/bangkok-thailand/dj-station-fire-safety
9. 2009-01-06 21:54  
Thanks Robert10. U r a truly DJ Station angel.


XOXO
10. 2009-01-06 22:31  
interesting...when i was in bkk last week a friend made an offhand comment about the (lack of) fire escapes at this chub/chaser sauna in chinatown...at least in babylon you can jump into the pool...with the other 700 guys.
11. 2009-01-06 22:36  
希望悲劇不要再次重演......
12. 2009-01-06 23:20  
Gosh! I was there dancing my nites away at the DJ station last weekend. That place was extremely packed, i could hardly move around. Imagine if there was a fire or some forms of disasters, many would be hurt or killed. I can imagine the scene during a disaster.......
13. 2009-01-07 00:31  
more than 10 years ago, there was a fire in a gay sauna in Taiwan too, which killed so many men...
14. 2009-01-07 00:35  
... if enough people walk away from these places, management will pay attention.
Of course, those with influence should talk firmly with the bosses of these places. Perhaps only then will they care.

Perhaps the new government can shut down night spots which flout fire safety regulations. Tourism is down anyway and a little capacity reduction at this time should do more good than harm in the long run... allowing quality players to survive and ride it out.
15. 2009-01-07 01:25  
There are fires in Thailand all the time. I't s only that the "Big" one from New Years" has served to highlight the problem of Thailand gov't being so inept at standards of construction, inspections, policing, fining and closures. Add to this the custom of bribing officials makes for a continued problem. I'll definitely check exits and safety when there, and take my money elsewhere when things look unsafe.
16. 2009-01-07 02:51  
Condolences to Mr Saenkaew's family and friends. This is a tragedy that has been waiting to happen and will inevitably happen again and again. It is clear the cycle of corruption in the country is endemic to it's populace to the point where they could not live without it and so they will not even attempt to try. Tourists flock to the location because all in all, a good time can be had oblivious to any potential consequences. Business people are too competitive to care any further than their next buck in order to affect safety changes and the police and bureaucrats care for nothing but their slice of the pie even at the expense of lives. Where CAN it end?
17. 2009-01-07 05:01  
Pray for the dead. And I hope this would lead to improvements of fire safety codes in order to prevent another tragic death
18. 2009-01-07 08:17  
Shame on businesses owners that put their customers' life at risk for their own gain.

Santika operates without license, without insurance; now the tragedy had happened, the owner begs and plead for forgiveness on TV, isn't it a bit too late?

Same go for places like DJ Station, G.O.D., not only there is insufficient fire escape, or as Robert10 shown in his photos, escape route blocked, there is no crowd control of any sort. Major cause of death in any fire is not burn but smoke inhalation and stampede. Even if you manage to make it out of DJ, are you able to excape the narrow Soi2 and the crowded night market on Silom?

Unfortunately our memory is very short. When you are out partying with friends, high on something or horny... whatever concerns you may have will always be set aside and you will think to yourself: "tragedy will never happen to me."

So business owners and local authority must ensure safety of the people.
19. 2009-01-07 10:13  
It's been year of fire sine the first day of the new year. Santika a night club was on fire after 20 minutes of New Year, 64 people died most in the fire. There is another department store on fire, a bus terminal, now this sauna.
20. 2009-01-07 10:52  
I know that it's terrible accident. But nobody wants it happened right?! My English is not good so I hope you understand what i am going to decribe my feeling with that.
We all know that is dangerous place when some fire appear but we still keep going there manytime. Do not make the guilty to the owner of those place. We have to give them advice or suggest about the safty way and keep safty by yourself. Those place are nice for gays. We need to make them better better and better in the future. If you do not like those place you would not come before and now said something bad about those place right?!
Thank you so much for reading my feeling
21. 2009-01-07 11:16  
60 fire engines? must have been huge
22. 2009-01-07 11:19  
G.S.M. is not a gay sauna.

It's a bullshit news.
23. 2009-01-07 11:21  
My condolences to the victims n their family....
Regardless of gay places or straight clubs, safety must come first.
24. 2009-01-07 11:23  
Yes it is true and thank God it di not happen to me as I was in GSM 3 days before that fire broke out and luckily i was not there on sunday as i was back to Malaysia if not the Malaysia Papers will make headlines on me on their front page story. Just can;t imagine why GSM do not have many exit to escape in case of fire and tell me just one exit only. I think other saunas in BKK is fire trap too as i been there. Infact on the eve of New Year i was also in the disco and lucky that disco was not on fire if not i am dead too. Now think of it so care and just feel sorrow to all those who had died.
25. 2009-01-07 11:24  
a crowded night club is a fire-death-trap if there are no adequate emergency exits, sprinkler systems, & emergency lights.

party promoters should stop using fireworks special effects inside crowded night clubs. they should use laser lights and other forms of optical special effects. also, the projection screens always work well inside night clubs.

party goers should not smoke cigarettes and cigars inside crowded night clubs. they smell bad + they're fire hazards.
26. 2009-01-07 15:06  
I think by now, everybody knows that an obvious death trap is DJ Station, u r for sure to die a horrible death when a fire broke out and you are on the 3rd floor.
Comment #27 was deleted by its author
Comment #28 was deleted by its author
29. 2009-01-07 16:17  
DJ station & the whole stretch of Soi 2 is a given death trap in a fire. Let's not forget that applies to the crowded congested Patpong I & II areas too; if a fire breaks out there, consequences will be similar. Just look at the ancient electrical wirings around BKK, it's only a matter of time before they short.

Just be careful wherever it is crowded and enclosed. Be vigilant.
30. 2009-01-07 16:36  
So pathetic...what a corrupt government !
31. 2009-01-07 17:33  
Every time I've been to DJ Station it has been absolutely jam packed with people, many of them smokers. I have looked around and thought that if there was a fire none of us would stand a chance. The death toll would be substantial.
32. 2009-01-07 20:25  
The gircuit parties at moonshine 8 didnt look too safe either. I noticed one exit near the entrance but there could have been more behind the black curtains.
Hope the staff were trained in case.
Centara hotel was a bit differet as many exits.
Not complaining just looking back.
33. 2009-01-07 20:34  
I just got back from Bangkok and I was going to report a bit of good news about DJ Station...no smoking! Actually that seems to be everywhere now, with big signs stating that you will get a 2,000 baht, $70.00 USA, fine. At DJ Station they do have dedicated rooms for smoking though. But robert10 here in his commnet, brings up a much stronger point than mine...photos of the exits from the outside of the club. (gayboythailand.com/bangkok-thailand/dj-station-fire-safety) I had no idea that the fire exits essentially led nowhere. Damn, that is sobering. I want to send those pics to all of my friends now. Thanks.
34. 2009-01-07 20:37  
I am praying for them.
35. 2009-01-07 20:53  
everyone should be aware that when fire breaks out inside a crowded night club, it is a life-or-death- situation.

please be careful & please be aware of your surrounding.

please make sure that you know where the exit doors are located.

please bring a cell phone with you so you can call the police or the fire fighters in case of emergency.
36. 2009-01-07 21:15  
I agree with the guy from Singapore, I dont go to DJ anymore to nervous about the exits for what they are worth....
37. 2009-01-07 21:40  
In the exit of Soi 2, from DJ Station and 10 bars, there are 2 food stalls with fire, boiling oil and gas cylinders. If something happens one day, 1,000 people have to leave through a corridor of 1 meters wide. Hundreds of people will die.
38. 2009-01-08 09:49  
The best place to party is home !!! With all the downturn and recession going on why not just save some money and party at home !!! It is tiring to travel anyway; and is no gurantee good fun. So just stay home and party with some of your friendly old mates !!!!
39. 2009-01-08 15:53  
Clubowners and parties organisers: please take note.

Just been to Taipei's parties. Lush and Jump. Are these venues properly fitted with fire emergency facilities?

Negligence and deaf-ears to these kinds of alerts are unforgivable. And would be very uncivilised. Making money is understandable, but there is a responsibility of care that goes with it.

40. 2009-01-08 16:41  
[Another commented on a gay news list: "Fire safety and precautions in many of the 30 or so gay saunas in BKK are crappy. I even don't know how to get out of the darkroom in a fire." ]

walau...
41. 2009-01-08 16:41  
[Another commented on a gay news list: "Fire safety and precautions in many of the 30 or so gay saunas in BKK are crappy. I even don't know how to get out of the darkroom in a fire." ]

walau...
42. 2009-01-09 02:59  
Well, the same thing happened in Taichung, Taiwan several years ago where many died in a fire. Entertainment venues are often fire traps because code enforcement is lax or circumvented by bribes to city officials. Sad but preventable. DAVE
43. 2009-01-09 09:30  
it's not a gay sauna
44. 2009-01-10 17:26  
Not gay? Try it and see what grabs ya
45. 2009-01-11 15:57  
Live to the fullest. We have no idea when will the end of our lives come to us. Death has been attached to humans since they were born. So, suck it up.

God bless you,
46. 2009-01-11 23:51  
Please make sure the clubs and sauna are safe before Song Kran when many foreign visitors will visit Bangkok. Want to see Thailand will be able to keep it's reputation as 'The Land of Smiles' for everybody including gays
47. 2009-01-13 22:17  
The only way to ensure things get "prevented" is if the patrons stop going.

As long as there's plenty of willing risktakers filling up these venues, and willing officials to take the bribes, more people will continue to die.

Sad, but simple.

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