Thai blaze club boss faces charge

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Thai police have said the chief owner of a Bangkok nightclub where a fire killed 62 people celebrating New Year's Eve will face criminal charges.

TV footage showed Wisuth Setsawat, the main shareholder of the Santika club, crying as he apologised to the families of victims before he was questioned.

More than 200 people were injured in the fire, with more than 30 still in a critical condition, officials said.

Reports suggest the fire may have begun when fireworks were lit on stage.

The venue, which was packed with up to 1,000 revellers, had no fire exit and there were bars on the windows.

Survivors have accused the venue of ignoring basic safety rules.

Mr Wisuth, one of a dozen people questioned over the blaze, will be charged with carelessness leading to the death of others and with admitting underage people to the club, police said.

<a class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7807202.stm">Hazy safety in party zone</a><a class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7807768.stm">'Angel' saved Briton in Thai fire</a> Mr Wisuth was shown on TV saying to reporters: "I feel very sorry for what happened. I want to apologise to victims' family members."

The police investigation into the cause of the blaze continues.

Some witnesses reported seeing flames shooting up from a stage in the club shortly after midnight, setting the ceiling alight.

Material that ignited in the ceiling - possibly soundproofing - flared into an inferno in just a few minutes and produced toxic fumes which killed many of the victims.

Witnesses described panic among the crowd as the club was plunged into darkness and the burning ceiling collapsed. With no emergency lighting, people struggled to find their way out.

Video of the immediate aftermath showed terrified party-goers stumbling out of the blazing club, many of them bruised or burned and in torn clothing.

A number of foreigners, including South Koreans, Japanese and Singaporeans, were among those killed and injured.

The UK Foreign Office said at least four Britons had been hurt.