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At least 59 people, including several foreigners, died on Thursday at an exclusive nightclub fire in which a thousand revelers celebrating the New Year, police reported.

Police officers indicated that about 130 people were injured as a result of the incident, which erupted shortly after midnight in the Santika Club in Bangkok, an area where there are several entertainment centers.


The officials, who refused to give his name not be allowed to speak with the press, said the club was packed with about 1,000 people. Rescue workers said that there appeared to be more bodies inside the building destroyed by fire.

The overall police, Jongrak Jutanot, said that at least 59 people were killed and that among those injured, were citizens of Australia, Nepal, Japan and Holland. It was not immediately possible to determine the number or nationalities of the foreigners were killed.


Earlier, another general of police, Chokchai Deeprasertwit said the incident could be caused by firecrackers that customers made in the Santika or that sparks off a screen, surrounded by fireworks, which showed the countdown for the arrival New Year in a local scene.

Deeprasertwit reported that the deaths occurred by burns, poisoning and smoke various injuries when customers tried to flee in droves to the club, which had only one door.


A firefighter at the scene, Watcharapong Sri saard said that actually there was another door in the rear of the building, but only the staff knew of its existence. He added that to leave the club needed to go through several staircases and bars located on the side of the window on the second floor, also difficult to escape.

Rescue workers said most of the corpses were in the basement of the club, which usually attract many foreigners and wealthy Thais. The bodies, placed in white bags were arranged in rows in the front parking lot of the establishment, where they were irrigated many shoes of the victims.


A video provided to APTN, the television division of BP, one of several rescue workers showed bloody victims, beaten and burnt drawn dragged the club succeeded in flames or running out the door or windows broken.

The flames wrapped around the building during the rescue operation, and the concrete roof of the building came down shortly afterwards.


A journalist from the AP, who threw a glimpse inside the building, still in flames, said all the objects in it had been reduced to ashes.

Police and paramedics crews reported that the rescue operation was delayed by the intense traffic during the New Year in the district of Ekamai, and the large number of cars parked at the club.


A page on the Internet and entertainment centers in Bangkok said that the club attracts "a multitude of wealthy Thai students, along with Western and European models, who tend to appear there, with a crowd looking to drink whiskey and a big stage .

Another page states that the high ceiling and a huge cross in the main hall makes one feel as if you were walking into a church. "