Bangkok Bar Fire Kills 27 People and Leaves Eight Critically Injured
A rapidly spreading fire at a popular Bangkok bar killed 27 people and hospitalised more than 60 others late Sunday.
The blaze erupted near the stage of Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao in the Chatuchak district just before midnight. Plunging the venue into darkness, the fire sent panicked patrons fleeing through the flame-engulfed front entrance.
Firefighters brought the emergency under control within 30 minutes. However, rescue teams discovered most of the deceased, nine men and 18 women, trapped inside a bathroom where they had sought refuge.
Suriyachai Raviwan, director of Bangkok’s disaster mitigation department, stated initial findings indicate the majority of victims died from smoke inhalation. Eight of those hospitalised remain in a critical condition.
Investigation points to electrical fault
Preliminary assessments suggest an electrical short circuit in an air conditioning unit ignited the blaze. Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt noted that highly flammable ceiling decorations likely accelerated the rapid spread of the flames.
Reports of unconscious patrons found near the building’s emergency exit indicate potential obstructions, a factor forensic teams are actively investigating to determine criminal liability.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the charred ruins early Monday. He relayed an account from a musician performing when the disaster struck, describing a sudden blast followed by a desperate rush to escape the smoke.
Rescuers recount chaotic scenes
Bystanders played a crucial role in the immediate aftermath. A passing motorist who alerted emergency services broke windows to pull two trapped individuals to safety.
Surin Jaiharn, a motorcyclist, told AFP he used clothing to smother flames on five fleeing patrons.
By Monday morning, the blackened shell of the building was cordoned off behind piles of shattered glass and ruined furniture. An acrid smell hung in the air as confronting images circulated of body bags lined up on the pavement.
The tragedy highlights poor enforcement of safety regulations, inadequate building inspections and a history of catastrophic accidents in Thailand. Despite repeated government pledges, deadly venue fires remain a recurring issue. A 2022 bar fire south of the capital claimed 22 lives, while a 2009 New Year’s Eve nightclub blaze in Bangkok killed 66. More recently, a 2024 electrical fire in the Chatuchak open-air market killed 1,000 animals.
