A fire that broke out at a pub in the Thai capital, Bangkok, has left 27 people dead and dozens injured, officials said on Monday. Police are investigating potential negligence, including reports that emergency exits were locked while customers attempted to flee the burning venue.
A video posted on social media and verified by Reuters shows thick smoke billowing from the "Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao" pub, followed by a burst of flames erupting through the door as customers scream and flee.
"Most of the victims ran toward the back of the building, toward the restrooms, and there were no clear signs for fire exits," said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene.
Bangkok's medical department stated that the incident, which occurred near midnight on Sunday, left 73 people injured, 25 of whom are in serious condition. Thirty-two people were discharged after receiving medical treatment.
Bangkok’s disaster management department reported that preliminary assessments suggest the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in the ceiling air conditioning unit. Police stated they are investigating the possibility that some exits were blocked, doors were locked, and flammable materials were used for soundproofing and stage decorations. The business owner is currently in intensive care, and police are attempting to interview staff members.
"At this moment, police are treating negligence as the primary line of investigation," national police chief Kitirath Phanphet told reporters.
"SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE"
Firefighter Chakrit Khongkom recounted arriving with the first fire engine to find the pub engulfed in flames, with many customers still trapped inside. Some were attempting to escape through the back of the building. Those who managed to get out through the front suffered burns.
"Smoke was everywhere. Most survivors were suffocating from smoke," he said. Bodycam footage from an emergency responder, viewed by Reuters, shows firefighters with oxygen masks moving through the darkened ruins of the pub with flashlights to search for survivors and victims. Several victims were lying on the floor near the restrooms as rescuers carried them out on stretchers.
"We sent a rescue team and found that many people were inside the restrooms. Most of them were trying to flee to the back because they saw the fire at the front," Chakrit said. In the early morning hours, the numbered bodies were laid out in two rows, awaiting transport while forensic experts examined the area. Firefighters stood outside the entrance of the pub, its facade charred and blackened by the blaze.
Following the fire, Sukanya Wongwongwai waited outside the pub, searching for a missing friend. Survivors had described the chaos inside to her.
"My friend, who was singing on stage, said they first noticed a burning smell, and shortly after, they saw the ceiling on fire," the 32-year-old Sukanya said.
"Some people were injured by ceiling debris, as it seemed the ceiling was made of sound-absorbing foam material."
A HISTORY OF FIRES
There have been several fires at entertainment venues in Thailand in recent years. While fire safety inspections are conducted, owners do not always consistently follow protocols.
In 2022, a fire at a nightclub in Chonburi killed at least 13 people, and in 2009, 65 people died during a New Year's Eve party at a Bangkok club; investigations revealed that corruption and safety violations were major contributing factors.
City authorities stated that "Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao" was licensed as a restaurant and live music venue and was inspected this April, at which time fire exits, signage, and extinguishers were in place.
The governor's office stated that the pub’s ceiling materials, decorations, and interior equipment would be inspected, as well as the possibility that tables and other items may have blocked the exits.
In a video released during an inspection of the scene by Anutin’s office, the Prime Minister was told that a door that once served as an exit had been bolted shut because the owner feared customers might leave without paying their bill. The door had a "staff only" sign and could be opened outward, but the official told Anutin that customers would not have known about it.
"If they had run in this direction, it would have been fine," Anutin replied.
Based on the accounts of survivors, officials reported that the fire may have started near the front stage area and spread quickly, forcing many to flee toward the kitchen and restrooms at the rear.
According to police, most of the bodies discovered were near the restrooms.
"There are two fire exits, one near the kitchen. There were crates of beer placed along the way," said Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt.
