At least 27 people were killed and more than 60 others injured after a devastating fire swept through a popular bar in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, late Sunday, authorities said.
The blaze broke out near the stage of Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao in the bustling Chatuchak district before spreading rapidly through the building, cutting off electricity and filling the venue with thick smoke, according to eyewitness accounts.
Videos shared on social media showed terrified patrons screaming and scrambling toward the exits as flames engulfed the front entrance, with some escaping while their clothes were still on fire.
Firefighters, who arrived shortly after midnight, brought the blaze under control within about 30 minutes. However, many victims were found dead inside a bathroom, where investigators believe they had sought refuge from the flames and smoke.
Bangkok’s disaster mitigation department said preliminary investigations pointed to a possible electrical short circuit in an air-conditioning unit as the cause of the fire, although officials stressed that a full forensic investigation was underway.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene on Monday, said a musician performing when the fire started told him there was “blasting” before thick smoke and flames spread rapidly through the venue.
According to the Prime Minister, the performer said many customers ran toward the rear of the building and hid inside the toilets in an attempt to escape the fire but were unable to get out.
Authorities said nine men and 18 women were among those killed, while more than 60 people were receiving treatment in hospital, including 22 listed in critical condition.
Director of Bangkok’s disaster mitigation department, Suriyachai Raviwan, said preliminary findings indicated that most victims died from smoke inhalation.
Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt said highly flammable decorative materials on the ceiling may have accelerated the spread of the fire. He also disclosed that investigators found several people unconscious near an emergency exit, raising concerns that escape routes may have been obstructed.
Officials cautioned that the exact circumstances surrounding the fire would only be established after forensic examinations were completed.
Eyewitnesses described desperate efforts to rescue victims as the inferno unfolded.
Motorcyclist Surin Jaiharn told newsmen he helped about five 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.”
Another witness, the driver who alerted emergency services, told local media that he smashed windows to rescue two people trapped inside the burning building.
By Monday morning, authorities had cordoned off the premises as investigators examined the charred structure. Shattered glass, damaged furniture and debris littered the entrance, while photographs from the scene showed rows of body bags outside the building.
Inside, the walls, furniture and ceiling had been extensively damaged by fire, with the smell of smoke still lingering in the area.
The Chatuchak district office ordered the building housing the bar to remain closed for 30 days pending investigations.
Authorities also announced financial assistance for victims’ families, with relatives of those killed to receive 29,300 Thai baht, while injured survivors undergoing treatment would receive 4,000 baht.
The tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly fire incidents in Thailand.
In 2022, a nightclub fire south of Bangkok claimed 22 lives, while a 2009 New Year’s nightclub blaze in the capital killed 66 people and injured more than 200 others. Last year, an electrical fire at Bangkok’s famous Chatuchak market also killed about 1,000 animals.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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