At least 14 people perish in fire at nightclub

Prayuth Chan-ocha, the prime minister, ordered an investigation into a massive blaze that tore through a nightclub, killing at least 14 people. The fire broke out at about 1am last Friday at the Mountain B nightspot in Chonburi province’s Sattahip district, about 90 km south-east of Bangkok. Video footage posted by a rescue service showed people fleeing the club screaming, their clothes ablaze.

Chalit Chotisupakarn, who escaped with burns to his arms and torso, described scenes of panic as people struggled to get out of the building.

The service said the blaze was accelerated by flammable acoustic foam on the walls of the club, and it took more than three hours to bring it under control.