At least 27 people lost their lives and eight others remain in critical condition after a devastating fire swept through a bar in Bangkok early Monday.
Emergency crews responded shortly after midnight after flames engulfed the venue. Firefighters found terrified patrons trying to escape through the burning main entrance as the blaze spread rapidly, reports BBC.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out near the stage of the popular live music and drinking venue before quickly spreading across the premises. The flames reportedly caused a power outage and filled the building with thick smoke.
Videos shared on X showed people rushing out of the burning bar, with some screaming and collapsing as flames shot from the building.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Reports said firefighters were alerted after a passing motorist noticed the blaze at around 11:30pm local time. The driver told local newspaper Daily News that he stopped his vehicle and smashed windows to rescue two people trapped inside.
Speaking to reporters, Charnvirakul said he had spoken with a musician who had been performing when the fire erupted.
“He said that there was a fire at the cut-out switch, and after that things happened very quickly. There was blasting and everybody tried to flee from the smoke and flames.
“Many of them were not able to make their way out because they went to the back of the building and tried to hide themselves from the smoke and flames in the toilet, and that’s where we found most of the bodies.”
Authorities said firefighters managed to control the blaze within about 30 minutes. The victims included nine men and 18 women. More than 60 people were taken to hospital, with eight reported to be in critical condition.
Suriyachai Raviwan, director of Bangkok’s disaster department, said preliminary assessments indicated that most of the victims likely died from smoke inhalation, although he stressed that a full investigation was still required to confirm the cause.
One witness, motorcyclist Surin Jaiharn, told AFP that he helped about five people escape from the burning building and used 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 told AFP.
The venue, locally known as Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, is situated in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district and is a well-known restaurant and entertainment spot, according to the Daily News.
Images taken after the fire was extinguished showed numerous body bags lined up outside the premises, while police cordoned off the area. Inside, the walls, ceiling and furniture were heavily charred, with sections of the ceiling peeling away.
Bangkok governor Chatchart Sittipunt, who visited the site, said flammable decorative materials on the ceiling appeared to have accelerated the spread of the fire. He added that toxic smoke produced by the burning decorations may have caused many victims to lose consciousness.
He also said several people were discovered unconscious near the emergency exit, raising concerns that tables or other objects may have blocked the escape route.
“However, this matter requires a thorough and official investigation by forensic officers,” he added.
The tragedy follows similar incidents in Thailand. Four years ago, a bar fire in a town south of Bangkok claimed 22 lives, while a nightclub fire in the capital in 2009 killed 66 people.
Although authorities pledged to strengthen fire and electrical safety measures after those disasters, enforcement of safety standards continues to be inconsistent across the country.
