Dozens die in Bangkok club fire
A policeman stands guard over some of those killed in the blaze
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Thursday, 01, Jan 2009 08:01
At least 61 people have been killed and over 200 more injured after a fire broke out at a Bangkok nightclub.
Reports suggest local and foreign revellers were amongst the 1,000 strong crowd packed into the Santika club in Thailand celebrating New Years when the blaze broke out.
The fire is thought to have spread rapidly through the building, causing the roof to collapse.
The blaze caused a stampede in the early hours of Thursday morning as people tried to escape, it is claimed.
Police major-general Chokchai Deeprasertwit told the Associated Press news agency the fire may have been caused by firecrackers brought into the club or by the pyrotechnics used for the countdown to midnight.
"We were all dancing and suddenly there was a big flame that came out of the front of the stage and everybody was running away," party-goer Oh Benjamas told the Reuters news agency.
"It was chaotic, too many people were stuck behind the door. Some of them tried to break through the glass window. I think a lot of those who died are people on the second floor who got stuck behind the crowd inside."
It is thought that at least four Britons are amongst the casualties.