The death toll in Thailand's New Year's Eve nightclub fire has reached 64 after two of those injured died, and police have said the club's owner faces criminal charges over the blaze.
The fire raced through the two-story Santika Club, engulfing many in flames. Others died in a stampede as hundreds of revealers tried to escape through the club's main door.
Police have said the owner of a Thai nightclub will face criminal charges over the blaze, which was likely sparked by a countdown fireworks display.
Police Lt Col Prawit Kangwol said on Monday the death toll had reached 64, including a Japanese national who died at Chulalongkorn Hospital on Sunday night. He did not have details on the other victim.
The hospital identified the Japanese man as 25-year-old Keiichi Wad, who had burns over more than 60 per cent of his body.
It was revealed over the weekend that the Bangkok nightclub had no fire exits and only a single fire extinguisher.
The Bangkok Post newspaper reported that the Santika nightclub was licensed only as a food shop that was supposed to close at midnight, like thousands of others in Bangkok that sell noodles, Thai curries and other meals in the evening. It was ineligible for a licence as an "entertainment venue" because it was not in a designated "entertainment zone", but had continued trading while an appeal lay dormant in the courts since 2003.
Yet, to all appearances at least, the Santika was no illegal den. It has was one of the city's most famous clubs, prominently located in one of the smartest neighbourhoods.
