Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 2, 2009, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a9 Winnipeg repress. Com world Winnipeg free press Friday january 2, 2009 a 9 b Angkok Thailand it was billed As a new years eve Blowout and a last night Celebration of the wildly popular and Classy Mantika nightclub before it moved to a new location. But before the revelry was Over at least 61 people were dead and More than 200 injured after they tried to flee what swiftly became a charred gutted ruin in a glitzy Bangkok entertainment area. Among the casualties was a singaporean who died and at least 35 foreigners who were injured including citizens of Australia Belgium Britain France Japan Singapore South Korea and the United states according to officials and reporters. The foreign affairs department in Ottawa said it had no reports of any canadians among the dead or injured. A full accounting was not expected for about a week since nearly 30 of the corpses were charred beyond recognition. The cause of the fire was under investigation with several witnesses saying a fireworks display during the new years countdown ignited the Blaze. But one foreigner said he saw no pyrotechnics at the club and a video shot by a guest showed Many inside the club waving sparklers shortly before the fire erupted. A senior Bangkok official Pongsak Kaseman ordered a preliminary investigation report to be completed within three Days and vowed to crack Down on unsafe entertainment venues some of which have been described As death traps by local residents. Everybody was pushing against each other trying to get out to the front door As quickly As possible. I saw people particularly Young girls being pushed away and crushed underneath As others were stomping on them trying to get out said Sompong tri Tareelap who lives in an apartment behind the nightclub. Sompong said the fire spread through the entire building within 10 minutes. People were screaming for help from every window Sompong said. It was a terrible sight. Their hair and clothes were on fire but there was nothing they could do As the fire engulfed them. Victims died from Burns smoke inhalation and injuries during the Stampede. Video footage of the disaster showed bloodied bruised and burned victims being dragged out of the burning two Storey club or managing to run through the door or out shattered windows. The video provided to a television news by Rescue workers showed flames racing through the entire building even As the Rescue operation was going on. The Phr Nakorn Centre an official Agency dealing with accidents in Bangkok said at least 61 people died and that 35 foreigners were among the injured. The Nare Thorn emergency Centre which was coordinating Relief efforts said that Overall More than 200 people were injured. Police it. Col. Suje Tana South Bandhu a forensics expert said it might take about a week to identify almost 30 bodies that were badly disfigured. The Mantika club popular with Young affluent thais As Well As tourists and expatriates was celebrating not Only the new year but also the last night at its location in the Skamai entertainment District. The owner was planning to move to a new location since the lease could not be extended. The website of the nation newspaper quoted one part goer Somchai Frendin As saying the Blaze was caused when the countdown fireworks ignited the second floor ceiling which was covered with soundproofing material. Sompong quoted a maid at the club As giving a similar account. Some of the Sparks fell onto the carpeted floor As Well. Within seconds smoke was everywhere he quoted her As saying. But Steven Hall 35, from Cardiff Wales in Britain said he saw no fireworks on the stage. As far As i could see the fire looked like it started at the ceiling level Hall said in a Hospital interview. The first thing i remember was seeing people on the stage and seeing flames coming out from along the ceiling level above the stage and seeing embers come Down and looking at the faces of people on the stage looking horrified. Police it. Gen. Congrak jut Anont said an initial investigation found the clubs safety system was substandard but did not elaborate. The club was packed with about 1,000 celebrants police officers at the scene said. Rescue workers said most of the bodies were found in a pit area surrounding the stage. The associated press new years fire at Bangkok club kills at least 61 fireworks May have ignited Blaze at upscale venue hundreds injured by Denis d. Gray i saw people. Being pushed away and crushed underneath As others were stomping on them trying to get out witness Cabo san Lucas Mexico two canadians were shot in the mexican tourist hot spot of Cabo san Lucas tuesday and one remains in Hospital in critical condition mexican Media reported wednesday. The two canadians aged 26 and 28, were shot in a topless bar called mermaids at about 1 30 a. M. Local time the Tribuna de los cabos reported. A 26 year old from Vancouver underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to the neck and remains in critical condition the newspaper reported. The second a 28 year old was in stable condition after being treated for gunshot wounds to the Throat and leg said the report. Names have not been confirmed. The newspaper said the two canadians were sitting at a table along with a u. S. Tourist when a Man who had ordered a Beer in the bar approached their table pulled out a gun and fired. Police Are reviewing footage from cameras to identify the gunman who fled the scene after also shooting a bar Security guard. Mexico is getting a reputation As a dangerous place for canadians. Last May a 29 year old Canadian Man was shot and killed at a Cabo san Lucas hotel after what mexican authorities said was a botched robbery. In january 2007, Glifford Glasier of Chatham ont. Was killed in Guadalajara in a hit and run incident. Adam de Prisco 19, of Woodbridge ont., was killed in Acapulco in february 2007. His family says he was beaten to death but mexican authorities say he was struck and killed by a car. A week later Ontario residents Rita Calara 55 and Yoyo Manela 73, received non life threatening injuries when they were shot at a hotel in Acapulco. In May 2007 Jeff Toews 34, a businessman from Grande Prairie alta., suffered severe head injuries in an attack at a Cancun resort. In 2006, Domenic and Nancy Ianiero were found murdered their throats Slit in their room at a resort in the mayan Riviera. In seven years foreign affairs missions in Mexico logged 172 reports of violence against Canadian travellers. Can West news service canadians shot in bar at mexican tourist spot Apicharti Weer Awong / associated press woman is consoled after finding name of a relative on a list of dead at Hospital. 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