The Central Administrative Court on Wednesday ruled the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is liable for 20% of the compensation for 12 relatives of those killed and and seriously injured in the Santika Pub fire during the New Year celebration on Jan 1, 2009.
The nightclub owners are liable to the rest of the compensation payment.
The lawsuit against the BMA was filed by 12 relatives, led by Esther Yean Chen, of those killed and seriously injured in the tragedy.
The plaintiffs argued in their lawsuit that the BMA was negligent in its supervision and control of the structure as well as related systems and equipment of the nightclub as required by the Building Control Act of 1979, leading to the fire that caused mutiple death and injuries.
The court ordered the BMA to pay 20% of the compensation, along with the owners of the Santika Pub.
The Santika Pub fire occurred on Jan 1, 2009 in Watthana district of Bangkok while New Year celebrations were taking place. A total of 66 people were killed and another 222 injured when fire swept through the nightclub while a band coincidentally called Burn was playing.
A number of foreign New Year revellers were among the injured.
From top: The Santika Pub's interior in 2008 (file photo), the fire engulfed the pub in 2009 (photo by Nantika Rungwattanapak), and its remains were later removed (photo by Somchai Poomlard).