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Bangkok club fire toll lowered to 58

BANGKOK, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- The death toll from a New Year's Day fire in a Bangkok nightclub has been revised downward to 58 with 100 revelers injured, police said.

About 1,000 partiers were welcoming the new year at the Santika nightclub in the Thong Lo district of the Thai capital when fire erupted shortly after midnight, CNN reported.

Original reports indicated 59 died and closer to 200 were injured. No reason was given for lowering the estimates.

Steven Hall, a British national injured in the blaze, told CNN flames began to spread along the ceiling above a stage during a performance, and some patrons apparently believed the blaze was part of the act.

"At the same time there were people rushing to get out, there were other people who seemed to be lacking a sense of urgency and didn't seem to realize what was going on," Hall said.

The blaze started near a stage where fireworks were being used as part of a performance, Bangkok Police Maj. Gen. Chokchai Deeprasertwit said.

"It may have been caused from sparks, but we don't know if it was sparks from guests or from the nightclub's countdown display on the nightclub stage," the police official said.

Most of those who died in the building were killed by smoke inhalation or were trampled in a rush to escape, officials said.

Most of the fatalities were Thai but some foreigners were reported among the dead, the Bangkok Post said. Officials said most of the bodies were found in the club's basement.

Hamas leader among dead in air raid

GAZA, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- A Hamas military commander in Gaza was among 10 people killed in an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp Thursday, Hamas and medical officials said.

Nizar Rayan died when an Israeli missile hit his house in the Jabalya Palestinian refugee camp north of Gaza, CNN reported. He was described by Israeli media as the most senior Hamas leader killed since the air assault began six days ago.

Palestinian medical sources told CNN 400 people have been killed in Gaza since the Israeli raids began Saturday, with 42 children, 13 women and two medical workers included in toll. Medical personnel said 2,000 people have been wounded, 216 of them critically.

Four Israelis -- three of them civilians -- have been killed and 56 wounded by Palestinian rocket fire, Israeli officials said.

The Israeli government rejected a French proposal for a humanitarian truce Wednesday, saying a "real and sustainable solution" to attacks by Palestinian militants was needed, government spokesman Mark Regev said.

Israeli airstikes hit targets south, west and north of Gaza, Palestinian sources said, including legislative and ministry buildings and a civil defense headquarters. Israeli military officials said the air force and navy hit 20 targets overnight.

Meanwhile, five rockets were launched into Israel, including two medium-range rockets that fell near the Beersheva, military officials said.

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, whose office in Gaza was hit Wednesday, said Israel must "stop attacking and killing our children, women and men."

Cease-fire discussions could begin once airstrikes end, border crossings open and a blockade lifted.

U.N. ambassadors, meanwhile, met in emergency session to consider a draft resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. The United States indicated the resolution wasn't balanced enough.

Five die in Washington house fire

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Two children and three adults died Thursday when fire consumed a home in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, a fire department spokesman said.

The five victims were among nine people who were inside the bungalow-style home when the fire was reported, The Washington Post reported.

Two victims died at an area hospital while three were pronounced dead at the scene, said D.C. Fire and

Emergency Medical Services Department spokesman Alan Etter.

Two other people were trapped inside the home several hours after the fire broke out, Etter told CNN.

Two survivors were in critical condition at an area hospital while two other survivors were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, the Post reported.

"It's just a monumental tragedy," Etter said.

Firefighters responding to the emergency call found the home "so consumed with fire that it created a difficult situation," Etter said.

Information about what caused the fire was not immediately available.

Suspect in Aspen threat found dead

ASPEN, Colo., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- A man suspected of sending suspicious packages to two banks disrupting New Year's Eve festivities in Aspen, Colo., was found dead Thursday, police said.

The body, identified as Jim Blanning, 71, was found "east of town," police told CNN. Cause of death was under investigation. Blanning, who reportedly lived in Denver, was identified through bank surveillance video.

Discovery of the packages forced a 16-block evacuation of bustling Aspen and the cancellation of the resort area's famed fireworks show.

The first package was found about 2:30 p.m. at a Wells Fargo Bank and the second was discovered soon after at the Vectra Bank. Aspen police said the packages came with notes that "indicated a credible threat to the community," the Denver Post said.

Officer Stephanie Dasaro said the packages were wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper with pizza boxes underneath and placed in black sleds, but authorities were not sure what was inside.

The incident shut down one of the biggest nights for Aspen's expensive clubs and restaurants. Tens of thousands of people normally turn out for the fireworks over Aspen Mountain and a bonfire in Wagner Park.