56 venues shut in Bangkok safety sweep

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered the temporary closure of 56 business establishments operating as entertainment venues after they failed safety checks, as part of its city-wide inspections following the fatal pub fire in Chatuchak district on the night of July 12, which has, so far, left 35 people dead and about 70 injured.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt also said that, during the past three days, city inspectors had examined 824 establishments and found only 217 that met the legal requirements on public safety. 551 others were ordered to improve their inadequate safety, while 56 were temporarily closed down for serious safety lapses.

He noted that the public safety law gives an opportunity for the owners of the businesses to make improvements in case of minor deficiencies without being closed down.

The building inspection campaign will continue for two months and some of the establishments will be re-inspected to make sure they are in compliance with safety standards, said the governor, adding that they will be required to produce a certificate of safety from an engineer or specialist in public safety.

The governor urged the public to report any safety lapses in establishments or entertainment venues to the city administration via the ‘Traffy Fondue’ platform.

The city administration will hold a special session on public safety requirements this Friday and Saturday for business operators, to create further awareness of the issue.