JAKARTA - At least 13 people were killed and 35 injured in a fire that engulfed a nightclub in Thailand's eastern Chonburi province on Friday, an official said.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and all victims have so far been identified as Thai nationals, police said. A separate statement from the Chonburi emergency services described 14 of the injuries as severe.
The fire at the Mountain B nightclub, about 180 km southeast of the capital Bangkok, broke out at around 1am local time, Wuttipong Somjai, a supervisor at the local police station, told Reuters by telephone.
Local TV footage showed people fleeing the fires, while emergency workers extinguished the flames and looked through the burning area, with shoes and bottles strewn on the ground.
A witness named Nana told local TV she was with five friends when the fire broke out in the area.
"I saw fire on the stage, on the right side. I think it was the same time that the singer on stage saw him too and he screamed 'fire!' and threw the microphone at it," he told broadcaster PPTV.
"I saw a lot of pub guards locked in fire inside," he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on Friday assured the families of the victims they would receive help from the authorities and urged entertainment venues across the country to ensure they have emergency exits, as well as proper safety and evacuation measures.
It is understood that the incident came 13 years after another deadly incident, when fireworks started to burn at the bustling Klum Malam Santika New Year's party in Bangkok, leaving 66 people dead.
Investigations into the fire uncovered several major misconduct at the club, corruption and revealed a negligent attitude towards safety at entertainment venues at the time.
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