83 Bangkok pubs closed over safety concerns

Bartenders prepare drinks at a nightspot on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok. (File photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
Bartenders prepare drinks at a nightspot on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok. (File photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has ordered all 50 districts in the city to carry out safety checks at entertainment venues, following the fatal nightclub fire in Chon Buri and another recent fire in the Silom area.

The governor on Saturday reported progress in a city-wide survey of the safety of entertainment venues, indicating he has received 400 reports so far with 83 locations considered problematic and ordered to suspend their operations.

The city is checking for fire escapes, including their visibility by patrons, while police have been asked to assist in the checks, he said.

Mr Chadchart was responding to the blaze at the Mountain B pub in Sattahip early Friday, which resulted in 15 deaths and 37 injuries.

Questions have been raised about the Sattahip incident, including the lack of fire exits and the use of inflammable soundproofing materials. As well, it has been revealed that the business had no licence to operate as a pub.

Mr Chadchart said the Sattahip tragedy should have been avoided, noting that he had called for more checks in the capital following a fire that broke out in a six-storey building on Silom Road on June 7.

Learn from listening

Click play to listen to audio for this story, or download to save the file
: :

Vocabulary

  • fire escape: a ladder or stairs outside a building that allow people in the building to escape a fire in the building - บันไดหนีไฟ,บันไดฉุกเฉิน
  • inflammable: of something that burns easily -
  • licence: an official document that gives someone permission to do or use something - ใบอนุญาต
  • operation: a business activity - การดำเนินการทางธุรกิจ
  • patron: a customer; someone who uses a particular entertainment place, hotel, restaurant, etc. - ลูกค้า
  • problematic: causing or involving problems - ก่อปัญหา
  • suspend: to stop for a period of time - ยกเลิกชั่วคราว, ระงับชั่วคราว
  • tragedy: a very sad event that causes people to suffer or die - โศกนาฏกรรม
  • visibility: how clearly objects can be seen, or how far you can see clearly, usually because of the weather conditions - ทัศนวิสัย
Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT
MORE IN SECTION