The devastating discotheque fire at Route 999.
Tragedy strikes North Pattaya.
It was a warm Sunday evening on May 7, 2006, just like any other typical day in North Pattaya. Following a delightful day, my friend and I decided to satisfy our hunger with some authentic Thai cuisine at the renowned Leng Kee restaurant on Central Pattaya road. This restaurant had been our favorite for years, and we always relished the dining experience there.
Around nine o'clock in the evening, we rode our mopeds to the restaurant, eager for some delicious Thai food. The place was not too crowded, allowing us to enjoy the sights of bustling traffic and people on the street, providing us with a glimpse of ordinary daily life.
As we placed our orders, the distant wailing of a rescue car's siren caught our attention. "That's a common sound in Thailand," I remarked to my friend, and we exchanged glances without giving it much thought. However, as time passed, around 9:30 PM, the sound of sirens grew louder and more frequent.
Police cars, ambulances, and special rescue vehicles rushed towards Pattaya 3rd Road to the north. "Something significant must have happened," I told my friend, who nodded in agreement. The situation seemed grave.
Amidst the flurry of sirens, a blue cab honked and sped past us towards Pattaya Memorial Hospital. Inside the cab lay a lifeless Thai individual, desperately being rushed to the hospital. One of the restaurant staff informed us, "Sorry, my friends need help. There's a massive fire at 'Route 999'!" Without hesitation, they hopped onto their mopeds and rushed to lend assistance.
Curiosity mixed with concern compelled us to act. "Let's go and see if we can help," I suggested to my friend. So, we set out and within minutes found ourselves amidst unimaginable horror, a catastrophe unfolding before our eyes. Countless Thai people lay on the ground, some severely burnt, others lifeless, and a few struggling to breathe. The scene was too distressing to bear.
Rescuers, with little regard for who was still alive, placed the injured, mostly young Thais, into any available vehicle and rushed them to safety. The realization hit us hard, this was a tragic disaster, a fire had broken out in the nightclub, trapping people inside with no means of escape.
Despite the firefighters' best efforts to create rescue openings in the walls, it seemed too late for many, as they had already succumbed to smoke inhalation or burns. It was a heartbreaking sight, and I felt a deep sense of helplessness. The rest of the evening in Pattaya seemed subdued, as everyone grappled with the shock of the event. News of the tragedy spread rapidly, reaching far beyond Thailand's borders.
Later, it was revealed that the emergency exits had been locked, and the security bars on the windows became fatal obstacles during the fire. The majority of those caught inside were staff members who had gathered for a meeting before the club's opening.
Official reports stated that "only" seven people lost their lives, but based on what I witnessed up close, along with other witnesses, it was vehemently disagreed upon. The actual death toll was far higher, but the truth was concealed, as is often the case. Besides the seven fatalities, approximately 50 individuals were injured, but the actual number of victims far exceeded the official count.
Private rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon rescue brigade later disclosed to a local radio station that within two hours, they had transported over 75 injured and 30 deceased individuals to nearby hospitals. The rescuers believed that more people might still be trapped inside, but the intense smoke hindered their efforts.
The date, 07-05-2006, remains etched in my memory as the day of the tragic disaster at the discotheque. The nightclub, spanning an area of approximately 1,000 square meters, included a pub, a go go bar, and a nightclub.
Even after over sixteen years, my thoughts continue to be with all those affected by this heart-wrenching tragedy. The devastating discotheque fire at Route 999 shook North Pattaya to its core, leaving a scar that will never fade away.
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