An army officer has become the 23rd fatality resulting from the Mountain B pub fire in Sattahip district of Chon Buri province on August 5th.

The 27-year-old officer, Lt Panupong Wongpakpaiboon, suffered 60% burns on his body and succumbed to his injuriesyesterday (Friday) at a hospital in Rayong province, where he had been since admission on August 5th.

Thirteen people, mostly customers, died at the pub on the night of the deadly inferno and 44 others were injured. Ten of the injured have subsequently died while hospital. At least five others are still on ventilators.

Relatives of several victims have lodged petitions with the Department of Special Investigation, asking them to take over the investigation, claiming that they do not trust the local police in Sattahip.