Pattaya, Thailand

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 25 April 2006 :-

Pattaya booms

Pattaya's tourist trade is booming with improved services and infrastructure, including hotels, the Fairtex sport complex, cinemas, shopping malls and the upcoming opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Last year 5,338,009 tourists arrived in Pattaya, up 6.5 per cent from 2004, according to the Tourism Authority. Of these, 66 per cent were foreign. With an average length of stay of 3.4 days and average daily expenditures of Bt2,819 per person, tourists spent about Bt48 billion in the resort.

Last year there were 293 hotels and guesthouses with a combined 34,007 rooms in Pattaya. They had an average occupancy rate of 58 per cent.

"In 2005, the hotel occupancy rate grew by 28 per cent. Pattaya has a strong prospect of attracting more tourists in this year," said TAT governor Juthamas Siriwan. Pattaya was benefiting from its proximity to Bangkok, she said, and could be reached in about 90 minutes via two motorways.

In recent years, Pattaya has seen a wide range of tourism-related developments. The Pattaya Beach Bus has recently opened its Red Line service, which runs a lengthy, circular route around the city. Healthland Spa has just opened one of its popular resorts. Meanwhile, Fairtex is Pattaya's newest entertainment complex, combining a Thai boxing school for foreigners, a traditional Thai massage service and fitness centre.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 26 April 2006 :-

Live sex raid in Pattaya

The Pattaya police chief was transferred yesterday to an inactive post following Monday's arrest of a German couple that allegedly hired three Thai people to perform live and recorded sex acts on an Internet website.

Colonel Somnuek Jankate will get his job back if an investigation panel finds him not guilty of failing to take action against the group.

A 50-strong police force raided the house of Gerd Cornlius, in Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district on Monday and found three Thai people performing live sex acts for a real-time show. They also uncovered a large amount of recorded pornographic material featuring the Thai suspects.

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Must be some kind of 'live' Tiger Show ? How I wish I was there, so that I go to bonk the Pattaya Tigress

[phantomtiger2]

This weeks News from Pattaya:

English man shot dead in, what appears to be, a random armed robbery in Pong sub-district

PATTAYA: -- At 4.30 am on Wednesday, Police Sub-Lieutenant Choosak from Pattaya Police Station was called to the front of the Jeab Mini-mart in Pong sub-district after receiving information of a foreign man who had been fatally shot at the location. Police arrived and inspected the body of Mr. Steven Parkinson aged 47 from England. Witnesses mentioned that a total of four shots were heard but it appears that only two hit the intended target. Mr. Parkinson sustained two gun shot wounds to his face.

Details of the shooting were provided by Khun Sujira aged 32 who works at a bar on Walking Street. She claims that Mr. Parkinson took her from the bar and the pair left South Pattaya on his motorbike, a Blue Honda Phantom. They made their way to Soi Siam Country Club in Central Pattaya and drove along the road towards Pong sub-district, some 3kms from the Sukumvit Road. Four Thai men on two motorbikes approached the pair from behind and one of the passengers produced a gun and ordered Mr. Parkinson to stop. He decided not to comply with the shooters instructions and the shooter expelled four shots.

The bike fell to the ground and Khun Sujira realized that Mr. Parkinson was dead. The four men restrained Khun Sujira at this point and stole items of value from her and the dead man including a mobile phone, 1,500 Baht in cash and a necklace and ring. A total of 20,000 Baht’s worth of items were stolen from the woman along with other undisclosed items stolen from Mr. Parkinson as he lie dead on the street.

[phantomtiger2]

Last weeks News from Pattaya:

Steve Miller, a soft-spoken 39-year-old New Zealander and five-year resident of Pattaya, was shot and killed in broad daylight 10 days ago as he drove his motorbike on a quiet street in North Pattaya.

Looks like Pattaya not as safe these days.

[phantomtiger2]

More bad news from today (but at least the criminals were caught in this one)

LATEST NEWS
Thursday 4th May 2006

Armed robbery and assault at the Flamingo Hotel in South Pattaya.


A dramatic armed robbery now which occurred at 6am on Thursday Morning at the Flamingo Hotel in Soi Day Night 2, South Pattaya. The night receptionist, Khun Amnat aged 24 was one hour away from coming off duty when two men entered the Hotel and asked for the room number of a Thai man who, records showed, did not stay at the hotel. The men then produced weapons, one was armed with a knife and the other had concealed a baseball bat behind his back. The two assailants ordered the receptionist to open a cash box which contained 2,654 Baht. They took the money, struck the victim on the back of the head with the baseball bat and threw him into a nearby toilet and locked him in from the outside. Eventually a fellow worker heard his screams and the Police were called. After only a short time, the two suspected thieves were caught by patrolling officers and taken back to the scene of the crime where they were positively identified by the victim. The two suspects are Khun Nopadon aged 25 and Khun Kajonsuk aged 30. Both confessed to the theft and even demonstrated to officers how they conducted the robbery and assault. Both men are unemployed and decided to target this hotel as they noticed that overnight, only one member of staff was present at reception. Both suspects are now behind bars awaiting their time in court on charges of theft and assault.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 7 May 2006 :-

Seven killed, 50 injured in Pattaya pub fire

Pattaya, Chon Buri - Seven people were killed and 49 others injured in a big fire that broke out at a pub on North Pataya Road Sunday night, police said.

The fire broke out at the Root 999 Pub at 9:30 pm and some 20 fire engines took about 45 minutes to control the blaze.

Police said the seven were dancers came with some 60 dancers from Bangkok to perform at the pub.

The injured people included dancers and other employees of the pub. They wee rushed to hospitals nearby.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 7 May 2006 :-

Seven killed in Pattaya blaze

Seven people were killed and about 50 were injured last night when fire engulfed a building in Pattaya that houses several entertainment venues, police said.

The fire started at about 9pm in the building, which is located on Pattaya No 3 Road in Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district.

A number of the victims are thought to be employees of the entertainment venue's discotheque, pub and cocktail lounge, said Police Colonel Somnuek Janket, superintendent of the Pattaya police station.

It was not confirmed last night whether any customers were among those injured.

Five of the victims - four women and one man - were pronounced dead after being admitted to Bang Lamung Hospital in Chon Buri. The sex of the other victims, who died inside the pub, remained unknown.

When the fire began, there were around 300 customers in the entertainment venues and stage shows were being performed.

The venue normally caters for between 300 and 500 visitors every day, including foreigners, local residents said.

Most of the victims are believed to have died from suffocation and those injured suffered from burns, police said.

Rescue workers said they believe all of the building's surviving occupants were evacuated.

The fire was extinguished but police were unable to enter the compound for inspection as the building was still smouldering.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 8 May 2006 :-

Pattaya disco fire kills 7

A fire hit an entertainment complex in North Pattaya last night killing at least seven people and injuring at least 49 bar-goers. Police said most of the people killed and injured at Route 999 entertainment complex were Thai customers and staff who were caught off guard when the fire started about 8.15pm, shortly after the place opened for business.

The blaze apparently started from the DJ room inside a discotheque in the complex, police said, but they still could not tell what caused it.

Police said many customers were already inside the complex and the staff were attending a routine briefing when the fire started.

Bodies of the victims were sent to Bang Lamung hospital while the injured were sent to a few other hospitals by relief volunteers. Police said they believed more people could be trapped inside the disco but firemen have yet to enter the building for fear the structure might collapse.

Route 999 entertainment complex is on Pattaya 3 road in North Pattaya. The complex is made up of a pub, a disco and a go-go bar covering an area of about 1,000 square metres.
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork

Originally Posted by KatoeyLover69

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 8 May 2006 :-

Pattaya disco fire kills 7

My tirak was one of the dancer there.
I got a call from her about 15 mins before the pub caught fire. But I did not pick up her call cause i couldnt recognise her phone num. actually she had used her friend's phone to call me because she hasnt got her prepaid card topped up yet.

So she went out of the pub to buy a top up card.

Then 15 mins later, got a call from her and she kept crying and crying because her friend was inside and she couldnt find her. So sad...

My tirak was really lucky not to be caught in the fire.

pictures of the accident can be seen here.
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_07_05_49.htm

[singrakthai]

Originally Posted by bangkoktonight

My tirak was really lucky not to be caught in the fire. pictures of the accident can be seen here.
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_07_05_49.htm

I always think this kinda thing will happen sooner or later... sometimes the local pubs/disco are so crowded, it really does get scary and I really cannot imagine if a fire broke out, and everyone starts rushing out... sure people die... so mus always remember.... safelty first even when having fun.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 8 May 2006 :-

'Careless welder' caused fatal Pattaya fire

PATTAYA - An official investigation found that carelessness was the cause of a fire raging a famous pub in Pattaya, Thailand's eastern resort city, Sunday night, killing 8 people and injuring more than 50 others, a senior police officer said here on Monday.

"The fire was found to have caused by a welder who was welding a broken part of an air conditioner on the roof of the pub, with sparks dropping on a carpet igniting the blaze," Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak Jutanont, Commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 2, told journalists.

"The pub was also found to have no fire exit and the back door locked," he added.

Witnesses said the fire broke out at around 09:30 p.m. from a DJ booth and quickly spread to other parts of the entertainment venue in the nothern Pattaya area.

All those who die in the blaze--five men and three women--are employees of the pub, including the welder; while some tourists are among those injured who were rushed to hospitals.

The number of those injured has risen to 54 so far.

Fire fighters put the blaze under control within two hours.

Damage to the fire was initially estimated at around Bt70 million.

Meanwhile, Pattaya Mayor Niran Wathanasartsathorn said that local welfare officials were providing assistance to all the fire victims and their families, and that the authorities concerned would inspect safety measures of other entertainment venues in Pattaya and would order the closure of those found to have sub-standardized safety measures if they fail to improve their safety systems to the required standard within a certain period of time.
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 8 May 2006 :-

Pataya fire death toll rises to 8

Pataya, Chon Buri - The number of people killed in a fire that engulfed a pub on North Pataya Road Sunday night rose to eight, a senior police office said.

Pol Lt Gen Jongrak Chuthannon, commissioner of Provincial Police Bureau 2, said the fire was caused by short circuit.

Jongrak identified the eight as Saijai Srilakul, 24, Winida Buachuen, 25, Suphan Parasami, 25, Supaporn Sornpinjin, 21, Chutima Boonju, 22, Thaweepong Kantiyamongkol, 29, Oei (surname unknown), 25, and an unidentified man.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 9 May 2006 :-

Route 999 nightspot defied closure order : Illegally modified before fatal blaze

Pattaya - The Route 999 entertainment complex destroyed by fire on Sunday night had been illegally modified and used in defiance of a ban, city officials said yesterday.

Pattaya Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn said the city had banned use of the building, initially constructed as a restaurant, in December.

Authorities had warned the complex's owner to obey the order, but nothing else had been done. The owner and manager has been identified as Wicha Baopimpa.

After the Sunday night blaze which killed eight people and injured 57 others, several seriously, the mayor promised strict structural and fire inspections of all entertainment venues and buildings.

City Hall yesterday declared Route 999 off limits after an initial inspection determined the building was on the verge of collapse and was a danger to the public.

Officials said the building structure's will again be inspected and a decision made whether to order demolition.

Police believe an electrician's carelessness was the cause of the fire which caused an estimated 70 million baht damage.

Police said electrician Khanueng Phaolek, 29, had used welding equipment to repair air-conditioning units and sparks set a carpet on fire which quickly spread. Mr Khanueng's charred body was found at the scene amid the debris.

Meanwhile, Potjanee Thanavaranit, chief of the Insurance Department, said Route 999 was not insured under the fire insurance law that took effect on Feb 19. The law requires fire insurance of at least 100,000 baht on all public buildings.

Ms Potjanee said the provincial insurance office told her Route 999's owner had contacted Viriya Insurance Co for fire coverage, but no contract had been yet signed.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 9 May 2006 :-

Eight staff burn to death in Pattaya pub blaze

Police are certain careless work by an air-conditioning mechanic caused a blaze at a popular pub in Pattaya which killed eight staff on Sunday.

Officers are inspecting whether the building was modified to meet safety standards and whether any fire exits were provided.

Route 999, right in the heart of Pattaya, caught fire on Sunday night while more than 100 staff were having a meeting before opening for business.

The fire killed five dancers and three male staff including the air-conditioner mechanic, Kamnung Phaolek, and injured 57 others.

Nutcharin Wongyam, 25, said 80 dancers called coyote girls who dressed in the style of dancers from a movie of the same name, were in the pub at the time.

She said she was in the dressing room and heard the sound of an explosion in the ceiling. A fire broke out and spread rapidly. Many staff escaped through the front gate but some were trapped inside.

Some of them were helped out by rescuers who broke through a wall but others choked on the smoke and lost consciousness. Fire fighters took about an hour to control the fire.

Police officers led by Police Region 2 Commissioner Lt-General Jongrak Juthanon, yesterday inspected the scene with civic officials and continued to search for more bodies, but no more have been found.

The police estimated the damage at about Bt20 million.

Jong-rak said from initial investigation, the pub's mechanic, Kamnung, who was fixing air-conditioners, had accidentally fallen, causing a gas tank in the ceiling to ignite and explode.

Route 999 is a 12-metre-high building on three rai of land.

It was modified last December at a cost of about Bt50 million. The pub had become popular with both Thais and foreigners and received around 300-500 visitors a day.

Pattaya mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn said the building was declared a hazard as it had been feared it might collapse.

He said before the pub was opened, the building was found to have been illegally modified.

Officials had ordered work on it to stop and revised plans submitted, but the pub owner ignored their orders.

"We are checking to see whether the pub had provided standard emergency exits," Nirun said.

Officials said most pubs in Pattaya only had an entrance and no fire escape.

In this case, most of the deaths involved new staff who were unfamiliar with the building so they failed to find the right escape routes. Officers will inspect the building and consider whether it needed to be demolished.

Nirun said he would order an inspection of other entertainment spots to prevent further incidents and take legal action against any pub flouting the law.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[RATZ6]

Originally Posted by bangkoktonight

My tirak was one of the dancer there.
I got a call from her about 15 mins before the pub caught fire. But I did not pick up her call cause i couldnt recognise her phone num. actually she had used her friend's phone to call me because she hasnt got her prepaid card topped up yet.

So she went out of the pub to buy a top up card.

Then 15 mins later, got a call from her and she kept crying and crying because her friend was inside and she couldnt find her. So sad...

My tirak was really lucky not to be caught in the fire.

pictures of the accident can be seen here.
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_07_05_49.htm

Ur tirak is really lucky, come out of the buliding before the fire.

Am still trying to contact my friend. Was just talking to her 1 hour before the fire. Really worrying, no news from her! Cannot stay around as I had to come back to SIN. But at least I don't see her name on the list.

Really praying hard now!