A PREDAWN fire broke out at a well-known discotheque on Pattaya’s Walking Street today, forcing hundreds of Thai and foreign tourists to run out in panic, Thai PBS said.
Fortunately nobody was hurt in the brief fire which spread in Natcha Club at 3.30 a.m.
When three fire trucks arrived, tourists were still running out of the place in panic.
Authorities and rescue workers then sealed off the area to prevent unauthorized persons from entering when firemen worked but it had already been put out by the discotheque staff before spreading.
Initial questioning of eyewitnesses revealed that the fire started at the club’s office on the second floor.
One tourist who ran out said about 100 people were drinking and dancing to DJ music when a staff member ran to them and shouted fire, forcing all to run out in panic as smoke was starting to billow out across the room.
Initial damage was put at one million baht and forensic police were today determining the cause of the fire.
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Top: Merrymakers mill around Pattaya’s Walking Street after a fire broke out at Natcha Club. Photo: Thai PBS
Inset: Thick smoke hangs over Natcha Club after the predawn fire was put out. Photo: Thai PBS