Duangporn Butkho went to the Tiger Disco for a quiet drink with her friends _ now police suspect her body is among the four charred victims found at the horrific scene of the fire.
ANGUISH: Akaraphol shows his sister’s picture. PHOTO: NUTTHATHIRATAA WITHITWINYUCHON
Ms Duangporn's brother Akaraphol Butkho has been conducting an agonising and frustrating search for his sister since the tragedy on Friday morning. Saturday he went to the site in a vain bid to find his sister.
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Mr Akaraphol also went to view the bodies at the hospital but could not confirm his sister's identity.
''Although the ring on the hand [on one of the bodies] looks familiar to me, it is quite a common ring that anyone can acquire,'' he said.
''I will not be sure until the result of the DNA test comes out.
''I have been looking for her at the hospital - she has never been out of touch with her friends this long.
''I want to make sure whether she is dead or alive. Anyone who happens to see my sister, please tell me. I beg you,'' he said while showing the photo of his sister to the media.
Late Saturday afternoon, four bodies were sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok.
Other people suspected to have perished in the blaze include a 20-year-old Thai who was working at the bar, a Japanese citizen and a French national.
Tourists interviewed by the Bangkok Post Sunday voiced concerns about the jumbled wires hanging from electricity poles and urged authorities to place them underground.
Australian Mina Goirguis, 35, from Melbourne, shared his terrifying minutes at the fire-gutted bar and disco.
''Someone came and said: 'Look! There's a fire upstairs _ it seems to be a small fire.' But they didn't fix it from the beginning. They could have fixed it but they didn't. And then everyone ran and they were trying to push each other.
''First I thought he was joking but then I saw people running down from upstairs. You could tell as well from the smell of the fire.
''The problem is with this wiring. It's not good. They should put it underground like other countries do. And it's going to happen again whenever there's a big storm or heavy rain.''
When asked what he thought about the safety systems in Patong, he said: ''They should practise more safety. This could help people.''
Other foreign tourists were also disturbed by the ramshackle wiring systems.
An American man, 25, said: ''That's not safe. Every time we walk around, we hear buzzing sounds. I mean this is just something waiting to happen.''
Australian Bob Coventry, 54, said the wires should be placed underground but did not think this would happen soon.
''It is what it is. Nothing is going to change in a hurry,'' Mr Coventry said.
But the blaze has not dampened the spirits of many foreign tourists at the beach resort renowned for its lively nightlife.
A retired woman from Australia on her third visit to Phuket said she was no concerned about the safety systems in place on the island.
''I'm quite happy with the safety system here. I don't feel uncomfortable here at all,'' she said.
When asked if she felt confident to return to Patong, she replied: ''Absolutely. Things like this happen anywhere. I feel OK.''