BANGKOK — According to BBC, At least 27 people have been killed and 22 others critically injured after a fire tore through a bar in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, late on Sunday, according to Thai authorities.
The blaze broke out near the stage of Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a bar in Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak district, before spreading rapidly through the building. Eyewitnesses said the fire quickly cut power to the venue, filling the room with thick smoke and trapping dozens of patrons inside.
Videos shared on social media showed panicked customers rushing for the exits, with some fleeing through the flames as their clothes caught fire.
Firefighters arrived shortly after midnight and brought the blaze under control within about 30 minutes. Rescue teams later discovered the bodies of many victims inside a bathroom, where they had apparently sought refuge from the smoke and flames.
Authorities said nine men and 18 women were among those killed, while more than 60 people remain in hospital. Twenty two of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.
Preliminary investigations by Bangkok’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit in an air conditioning unit. However, officials stressed that the exact cause has not yet been determined and that a full forensic investigation is underway.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene early on Monday, said a musician performing at the venue told him there had been “blasting” before the fire spread rapidly.
According to the prime minister, the performer said many people attempted to escape but others ran towards the rear of the building and sheltered inside a bathroom, where many were later found dead.
Initial findings indicate that most victims died from smoke inhalation, said Suriyachai Raviwan, Director of Bangkok’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.
Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt said highly flammable decorative materials on the venue’s ceiling may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. He also noted reports that several people were found unconscious near an emergency exit, raising concerns that escape routes may have been obstructed. Investigators are examining both possibilities.
One witness, Surin Jaiharn, told AFP he helped several people escape by using clothing to extinguish flames on their bodies.
“I feel depressed. I saw many deaths and I do not know the fate of the people I helped,” he said.
Another witness, the driver who alerted emergency services, told Thai newspaper Daily News that he broke windows to help two people escape from the burning building.
By Monday morning, police had sealed off the site as forensic investigators examined the scene. The building’s windows were shattered, while burned furniture and debris were piled outside the entrance. Inside, the walls, ceiling and furnishings were heavily charred.
BBC journalists who visited the scene reported that a strong smell of smoke still lingered in the air, while photographs showed rows of body bags outside the building.
The Chatuchak District Office announced that the building housing the bar would remain closed for 30 days pending the outcome of the investigation.
Authorities also announced financial assistance for victims’ families. The relatives of those killed will receive 29,300 Thai baht (about $880), while injured survivors receiving hospital treatment will receive 4,000 baht (around $120).
The tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly fires in Thailand that have raised concerns over the enforcement of fire safety regulations.
In 2022, a nightclub fire in Chon Buri province killed 22 people. In 2009, Bangkok’s Santika Club fire claimed 66 lives and injured more than 200 people as New Year celebrations were underway.
In 2024, an electrical short circuit sparked a major fire at Bangkok’s famous Chatuchak Market, killing around 1,000 animals.
Despite repeated government pledges to strengthen fire and electrical safety standards following previous disasters, safety experts have long warned that enforcement remains inconsistent.
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