At least 28 people have died and more than 70 others have been injured after a massive fire swept through a crowded entertainment venue in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, in the early hours of Monday.
The blaze erupted shortly after midnight at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a popular bar located in the city’s Chatuchak district. Witnesses said the fire appeared to start near the stage before spreading rapidly through the building, knocking out electricity and filling the venue with thick smoke.
Panic quickly erupted as hundreds of partygoers scrambled for safety. Videos shared online showed terrified patrons rushing toward exits, with some escaping while their clothes were still burning.
Fire crews arrived after receiving an emergency alert from a passing motorist and managed to contain the inferno within about 30 minutes. By then, however, dozens of people had already lost their lives.
Police said many of the victims were discovered inside the bar’s toilets, where they are believed to have taken shelter from the flames and heavy smoke.
National Police Chief Kitrat Panphet said darkness and confusion made escape extremely difficult.
“Most of the people who died were found in the toilets. When the fire broke out, they panicked. There were no lights,” he said.
Authorities confirmed that 71 people sustained injuries in the disaster, including 25 who remain in critical condition. Others suffered moderate and minor injuries. The owner of the establishment was also hospitalized and is receiving treatment in an intensive care unit.
Survivors recounted desperate attempts to save loved ones as the fire spread within moments.
Kaew-udon Poungppany, a 24-year-old from neighboring Laos, said he tried unsuccessfully to rescue his younger brother.
“I grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed it at the door, but I couldn’t go any further. I heard people screaming,” he said.
Another survivor, Usa Tadsree, said she narrowly escaped after stepping outside for a cigarette moments before the fire intensified. She recalled hearing a loud explosion before smoke and flames engulfed the building.
“There was no way to get out,” she said, adding that one of her friends who had been sitting with her was later found dead.
A passing motorcyclist, Surin Jaiharn, joined rescue efforts by helping people fleeing the burning venue.
“I feel depressed. I saw many deaths and I do not know the fate of the people I helped,” he said.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault involving an air conditioning unit, although officials say the exact cause has not yet been established.
Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt said highly flammable decorative materials attached to the ceiling may have fueled the rapid spread of the flames. Investigators are also examining reports that an emergency exit may have been blocked after several unconscious victims were found nearby.
The venue has been sealed off as forensic experts continue gathering evidence.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene on Monday and promised a full investigation. He said witnesses, including a musician performing at the venue, reported hearing an explosion before customers rushed to escape.
The Thai government announced compensation for victims, with families of those killed set to receive 29,300 Thai baht each, while injured survivors undergoing treatment will receive 4,000 baht.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns about fire safety standards in Thailand’s entertainment industry. Similar disasters have occurred in recent years, including a nightclub fire in 2022 that claimed 22 lives and the 2009 New Year’s Eve nightclub blaze in Bangkok that killed 66 people.
Authorities say investigations are continuing to determine the exact cause of the latest fire and whether negligence or safety violations contributed to the devastating loss of life.
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