Bangkok bar fire kills 28, 25 critically injured.
Late Sunday night, a blaze erupted in the club‑bar Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok. The fire started near the stage and spread quickly, cutting power and filling the interior with thick smoke.
Firefighters arrived after midnight and, after about 30 minutes, controlled the flames. In the final scenes, bodies were found in the bathroom where patrons had fled for shelter.
Authorities say at least 28 people died and 71 were treated for injuries, including 25 who remain in critical condition.
Eyewitness footage shows people running through a doorway that was suddenly engulfed in flames; one 41‑year‑old survivor describes a “very fast boom” and a chaotic escape.
Police chief Kitrat Panphet said most victims were found in toilets and that panic had set in once the lights went out.
Preliminary investigation links the blaze to a possible short circuit in an air conditioner, but the exact cause remains unconfirmed.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the site early Monday. He reported that a musician playing on the premises described the “blasting” and people fleeing through the smoke.
The local government has closed the building for 30 days and offered 29,300 Thai baht ($880) to families of the deceased, and 4,000 baht ($120) for those treated in hospitals.
This is not the first fire tragedy in Thailand; similar incidents have occurred in 2022, 2009, and even a 2024 market blaze that killed 1,000 animals.
The incident has highlighted ongoing concerns over safety enforcement in venues across the country. Authorities promise a thorough investigation to determine the root cause and prevent future tragedies.
Image source: BBC/Google Maps
