More than 200 people, including at least four Britons, were injured in the fire at the Santika club.

There are suspicions that firecrackers released inside the club may have been the cause of the blaze.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been to see the charred remains of the building, and met injured victims.

"The problem was that firecrackers were allowed to be brought inside (the nightclub), that is the issue about which we have to be more cautious and it has to be controlled more strictly," Abhisit told reporters.

Video of the immediate aftermath shows terrified party-goers stumbling out of the blazing club, many of them bruised or burned, in torn clothing.

Police said the fire may have been caused by firecrackers brought into the nightclub by guests or sparks flying from a pyrotechnic New Year countdown display.

Party-goers emerged bruised and burned from the fire.

They said most of the victims died from suffocation, but some were also killed in a stampede as party-goers tried to leave the club.

Fire brigade officials said the death toll was high because there were few exits from the building and because windows on the upper floors had iron bars across them.

Police said their initial investigation found the club's safety system was "sub-standard" but did not elaborate.