Deadly fire at popular Bangkok bar kills 27, injures dozens

The incident occurred late Monday night (July 13) at a bar named Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao in Bangkok's Chatuchak area.

Local media outlets ThaiRath and Daily News reported that the fire service received reports of the fire shortly after midnight and arrived at the scene to begin rescue operations. The fire was brought under control after about half an hour, but by then, the bodies of 27 people had been recovered from inside the bar.

Witnesses said smoke spread throughout the building within moments of the fire starting. Panicked people began running to save their lives. Videos circulating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) showed flames billowing from the front of the bar and people trying to run out.

A passerby who first spotted the fire called emergency services. He is also reported to have broken a window and rescued at least two people.

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that a musician was performing at the bar when the fire broke out. According to his account, the fire first started at the main electrical switchboard. Then, with a loud explosion, the fire and smoke spread very quickly throughout the building.

The Prime Minister said many people had gone to the back of the building and taken shelter in the toilets to escape the smoke. Rescue workers later recovered most of the bodies from there.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire originated from the electrical switchboard. Additionally, flammable decorative materials inside the building caused the fire to spread rapidly. Authorities are also investigating whether emergency exits were partially blocked by tables or other furniture.

Officials have stated that a full investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident. The building's fire safety systems and the standards of its emergency exits are also being examined.