PATTAYA, Thailand – A leaking valve on an ageing portable LPG cylinder caused a strong gas smell behind a Pattaya club shortly after midnight on October 30, prompting rescue workers to intervene and prevent a potentially dangerous incident.
The Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received an emergency call at around 12.10am reporting a strong smell of leaking gas behind Juicy Lucy Gentlemen’s Club in Soi Bongkot 8, South Pattaya. Rescue personnel arrived with equipment and traced the leak to an old picnic-style gas cylinder. Its valve was leaking and could not be shut off, allowing LPG to spread around the rear of the premises.
The team moved the cylinder away from the building to an open area and brought the situation under control. No one was injured or killed, and there was no explosion or fire.
The woman who reported the incident, identified as 45-year-old Kannarat Hongmala, said she initially noticed a strong smell of gas behind the club and followed it to locate the source. She found gas escaping from the old cylinder and called for help, fearing it could cause an accident. She said a younger colleague had previously used the cylinder to boil instant noodles before its valve began leaking and could no longer be closed.
The initial assessment pointed to the cylinder’s age and deteriorated condition, with a faulty valve believed to have caused the leak. The incident serves as a reminder to check gas cylinders, valves and connections before use, and to replace damaged or ageing equipment to prevent dangerous leaks.
