Just before the Christmas and New Year celebrations in Pattaya swung into full gear Khun Komsan the Governor of Chonburi Province tasked Khun Amnat, the Chief Bailiff of Banglamung District with carrying out a series of inspections of safety standards in the town's nightclubs, discos and entertainment venues.
A team of Banglamung officials, fire safety experts and building safety officials and Pattaya Police officers started their task on Walking Street in South Pattaya where the bulk of foreign and Thai tourists will be flocking to enjoy the seasons festivities. Establishments were checked to make sure that they met stringent fire safety standards with requisite fire extinguishers and that water fire suppressing sprinkler systems and fire exits were available and serviceable.
The authorities are haunted by the tragic events of the Santika nightclub disaster in 2009 when a fire swept through the venue taking the lives of 59 mainly Thai revellers.
Some irregularities were found during the visits and the venues were served with notices and instructed to make make urgent changes otherwise they could be subject to temporary closure orders which would be devastating for the business in the midst of the high season.
Whilst touring Walking Street venues the Officers also detained a number of street vendors who were selling illegal fireworks in contravention of local regulations.
