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At least 27 people were killed and 63 others injured after a massive fire swept through a bar and restaurant in Bangkok late Sunday night, prompting Thai authorities to launch an investigation into the tragedy.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the blaze spread rapidly through the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao entertainment venue, with smoke believed to be the primary cause of most of the fatalities. Twenty-two of the injured remain in critical condition.
Authorities said several victims were discovered near a fire exit, raising concerns that escape routes may have been obstructed during the emergency.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as flames erupted from the entrance of the crowded venue, sending patrons scrambling to escape.
Motorbike taxi rider Surin Jaiharn said he helped several victims with severe burns after seeing flames burst through the bar’s entrance.
Another eyewitness, Laotian tourist Kan Kutirat, said he noticed smoke rising near the stage before hearing loud screams. He managed to rescue one woman and later shared a video showing patrons fleeing the building, some with their clothing on fire.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene, said musicians at the venue reported seeing smoke from a circuit breaker near the stage before the electricity failed and an explosion occurred.
Officials said many victims ran towards the rear of the building and became trapped in restroom areas with no exit as thick smoke filled the premises.
Emergency responders said the fire had already engulfed the venue by the time firefighters arrived, making rescue efforts difficult due to intense heat and furniture blocking access routes.
The venue, which has a capacity of more than 300 people, reportedly has four fire exits, though investigators are examining whether all emergency exits were accessible during the incident.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over fire safety standards in Thailand‘s entertainment industry. In 2022, a nightclub fire in Chonburi province claimed 25 lives, while Bangkok’s Santika nightclub fire killed 67 people during New Year’s celebrations in 2009.
