At least 61 people died and 225 were injured after a fire broke out in a Bangkok nightclub on New Years Eve.CNN: 19 dead still unidentified after Bangkok blaze (January 3, 2009) Reuters: Two more Bangkok nightclub blaze victims die (January 3, 2009) A witness reported that the fire started shortly after midnight on January 1, 2009 after fireworks were set off on the club stage.BBC News: 'Dozens die' in Bangkok nightclub (December 31, 2008)
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"We were all dancing and suddenly there was a big flame that came out of the front of the stage and everybody was running away."—Survivor Oh BenjamasReuters: Nightclub fire kills 53 in Bangkok: police (December 31, 2008)
"It appears that the fire started from the area of the stage where a band was playing. There were some pyrotechnics and it appears that they started the blaze."—Lieutenant Colonel Prawit KantwolTimes Online: British school teacher feared dead in Bangkok nightclub inferno (December 31, 2008)
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At least 227people were injured in the blaze; at least seven of those injured died in the following daysNew York Times: At Least 59 Die in Bangkok Club Fire (January 1, 2009)
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The club was reportedly popular among both locals and touristsBBC News: 'Dozens die' in Bangkok nightclub (December 31, 2008)
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Fire started just after midnight local time on January 1, 2009
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A witness reported that the fire appeared to have ignited after fireworks were set off
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Witnesses reported that several of the bodies were burned beyond recognitionReuters: Nightclub fire kills 53 in Bangkok: police (December 31, 2008)
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