Pattaya-
On August 5th, 2022, a devastating fire broke out at the Mountain B Pub, a nightclub located on Sukhumvit Road in the Sattahip district of Chonburi Province. The blaze started around 12:45 AM during a live music performance, originating on the ceiling above the stage which we covered in depth here.
The fire spread rapidly, fueled by flammable acoustic foam installed in the venue, trapping many of the estimated 50 to 100 patrons inside. The pub had only one functional exit for customers, as other doors were either locked or obstructed, adding to the tragedy. By the end of the incident, 26 people lost their lives—14 died at the scene, and the remaining succumbed to their injuries in hospitals over the following weeks and months. About fifty others were injured, many with lifetime scars and burns, including this Vietnamese woman who faced a difficult road to recovery after horrific burns.
The owner of the Mountain B Pub, identified as Pongsiri Panprasong, also known as “Sia B,” faced legal consequences for his role in the disaster. On March 18, 2025, the Pattaya Provincial Court sentenced him to five years and four months in prison after he was found guilty of recklessness causing death.
Initially facing a potential 10-year sentence, his term was reduced due to a guilty confession. Alongside him, three others were convicted: His wife and father each received 10-year sentences, and an electrician involved in the pub’s setup was sentenced to five years and one month. The court also imposed fines, with Sia B ordered to pay 133,000 baht. Compensation for the victims’ families was set to vary between 2 to 5 million baht per victim. His wife and father received longer sentences and 266,000 Baht fines due to not confessing but later being found guilty for their part in the shocking incident, although they are able to appeal.
The fire exposed significant safety violations at the venue. The Mountain B Pub was operating illegally, licensed only as a restaurant with a midnight closing time, yet it functioned as a nightclub past legal hours in an area where such establishments were prohibited. The lack of proper permits, inadequate fire safety measures—like the limited exits and the use of highly flammable materials—and alleged negligence by officials who failed to enforce regulations contributed to the catastrophe.
Lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet, representing the victims, expressed satisfaction with the sentencing but vowed to pursue further action against any potential government officials whose oversight allowed the pub to operate unsafely.
The sentencing marks a step toward justice for the victims, though the appeal process remains an option for the convicted parties.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
