Update: Four killed in holiday resort nightclub blaze
Four people have died following a fire at a nightclub in the popular Thai resort of Phuket.
Deputy governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada said those killed were believed to be foreign tourists, but they have not yet been identified.
At least 20 others were injured in the fire on the first floor of the Tiger Pub and disco in the Patong beach area of the resort in the early hours of this morning. Two, including a Frenchman, are in a critical condition. Hospital workers said other foreigners are among the injuried.
Tipayapongtada told AFP news agency: "The fire was caused by lightning which struck a transformer and the fire spread throughout the place."
The fire broke out shortly before 4:00hrs local time (21:00 GMT on Thursday) and rescue workers pulled charred bodies from the wreckage this morning. Reports say the deceased included two men and a woman, but their bodies were too badly burned to be immediately identified.
Safety and security has long been a concern in Thailand, one of the world’s most popular long-haul destinations.
On New Year’s Day in 2009, 66 people died in a fire in the Santika Club in Bangkok. Two men, including the owner of the club, were jailed last year.
There are fears this latest incident will further tarnish Thailand’s image in the UK. Seven British nationals have been murdered in Thailand since January 2009, and in June an Australian travel agent was stabbed to death in Phuket during a fam trip.
The Foreign Office also warns there is a "high threat" of terrorism in Thailand following bomb attacks in tourist areas including in Chiang Mai in the north in 2010 and in central Bangkok in February this year.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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