A devastating fire at a popular pub in Bangkok, Thailand, has resulted in the deaths of at least 27 people, with another 22 critically injured. The fire broke out at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub in the early hours of Monday, forcing many to run to the back of the venue near the bathrooms in a desperate bid to escape.
According to officials, the fire is believed to have started around midnight at the front stage section of the pub and spread rapidly. The initial assessment suggests that an electrical short circuit in an air conditioner located in the ceiling may have caused the fire. The prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, visited the site and spoke to reporters, stating that survivor accounts indicated the pub rapidly filled with smoke after the fire broke out.
Bangkok’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, has announced that investigators will examine whether any emergency exits may have been obstructed, potentially making it more difficult for people to evacuate. The owner of the pub was inside the building when the fire broke out and is currently receiving medical treatment in hospital.
Distraught families of the victims have been identifying bodies at the police headquarters’ morgue, with many of the victims believed to be Thai nationals between 25 and 50. The Thai band Tossakan was playing on stage when the fire broke out, and their lead singer was among those killed in the blaze. The band’s drummer is in a serious condition, and the whereabouts of two other members are unknown.
Eyewitnesses have described the chaotic scene, with one Laotian tourist, Kan Kutirat, sharing a video on Facebook that showed patrons fleeing into the street as flames surged out the door. Usa Tadsree, 40, who was at the bar, tried to go back in to help but was unable to do so due to the heavy smoke. Two of her friends died, and a third is in a critical condition.
The incident has sparked an outpouring of grief, with local people paying their respects outside the barricaded venue. Thailand has suffered similar tragedies in the past, including a fire at a music pub in 2022 that killed 14 people and a blaze at the Santika nightclub in 2009 that killed 66 people.
