Relatives of those killed in the Thai nightclub fire have marked one year since the tragedy.

Twenty-five revellers were killed and 50 injured when flames ripped through the building in Chonburi, eastern Thailand, on August 5 last year.

There were only three doors inside the nightclub - the front door and two others at the back that were locked - leading to a hellish crush as the inferno incinerated the partygoers.

Many of the survivors suffered horrific burns that they are still struggling to recover from. The owners are still being pursued through the courts for compensation as the building was found to be illegally constructed in a closed space.


Some of the victims' family members attended a Buddhist ceremony at the Soi Yen Ruedi Meditation Centre.

The ceremony was chaired by Benjamaporn Klaisaeng, the mother of the former manager Wiriya Tengsagna who perished in the blaze, as a solemn tribute to the victims of the tragic incident.


During the ceremony, Benjamaporn said that the injured victims and families of the deceased had received only three payments of 50,000 baht (1,120 GBP) in damages from the pub.

She claimed the pub owners did not provide any further support or communication with the affected individuals and families.

Benjamaporn expressed her desire for the owners to provide financial support for the victims and their families.

Meanwhile, Kanyarak Ngamdee, the mother of firefighter Parupong Ruamsuk, said that her son's entire body was severely burnt during the incident, leading to hospitalisation for more than three months.

She revealed that Parupong's wounds have not fully healed, and he is confined to staying inside a room at home to prevent infection.

Parupong is afraid to venture outside and is unable to work, but his employer and colleagues have been supportive by cleaning his wounds and providing financial aid.

However, the lack of care and support from the pub owner has left her feeling like she wants to forget the incident altogether.

She shared that over the past year, she worked tirelessly to take care of her son as she was the sole income earner in the family.

However, the stress took a toll on her, and she found it difficult to communicate with Parupong, who was overwhelmed with overthinking and believed he had become a burden.

Recalling difficult moments, she mentioned that he sometimes expressed regret, wishing the oxygen tube had been removed during his treatment, just so he could escape the suffering.

The Pattaya Provincial Court is still conducting witness hearings for the case. Government officers and local police are also being probed for allegedly ignoring planning breaches and noise complaints from concerned locals in the months before the fire.

Pub owner Somyos Panprasong, 55, was charged with recklessness causing deaths and injuries, and opening and operating an entertainment venue without permission.