By Swift Reporter
At least 28 people have been killed and more than 70 others injured after a devastating fire tore through a crowded bar in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, late Sunday night.
The blaze broke out at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a popular entertainment venue in the city’s bustling Chatuchak district, shortly after midnight. Witnesses said the fire started near the stage before rapidly spreading across the premises, cutting off electricity and filling the building with thick smoke.
Videos circulating on social media captured scenes of panic as patrons screamed and rushed toward the exits, with some seen fleeing the building while their clothes were on fire.
Firefighters responded swiftly after receiving an alert from a passing motorist and managed to bring the inferno under control within about 30 minutes. However, the fire had already claimed dozens of lives.
Authorities said most of the victims were found inside the bar’s toilets, where they are believed to have sought refuge from the flames and smoke.
National Police Chief Kitrat Panphet said panic and darkness may have contributed to the high death toll.
“Most of the people who died were found in the toilets. When the fire broke out, they panicked. There were no lights,” he said.
According to officials, 71 people were injured, including 25 who remain in critical condition, while others sustained moderate and minor injuries.
Among those hospitalized is the owner of the establishment, who is receiving treatment in an intensive care unit.
Several survivors described chaotic scenes as the fire spread within seconds.
Kaew-udon Poungppany, a 24-year-old from neighboring Laos, said he desperately tried to rescue his younger brother but was unable to reach him.
“I grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed it at the door, but I couldn’t go any further. I heard people screaming,” he said, fighting back tears.
Another survivor, Usa Tadsree, escaped moments before the fire intensified after stepping outside for a cigarette.
She recalled hearing a loud explosion before seeing smoke and flames engulf the building.
“There was no way to get out,” she said, adding that one of her friends who had been sitting with her moments earlier was later found dead.
Motorcyclist Surin Jaiharn, who helped rescue several victims, said he used clothing to extinguish flames on people fleeing the burning building.
“I feel depressed. I saw many deaths and I do not know the fate of the people I helped,” he said.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit in an air conditioning unit, although authorities say the exact cause has yet to be established.
Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt said highly flammable decorative materials on the ceiling may have accelerated the spread of the blaze.
Investigators are also examining reports that the emergency exit may have been obstructed after several unconscious victims were found nearby.
The bar has since been sealed off as forensic experts continue examining the scene.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the site on Monday and pledged a comprehensive investigation into the disaster.
He said eyewitnesses, including a musician performing at the venue, described hearing an explosion before customers rushed to escape the smoke and flames.
Authorities announced that families of those who died will receive financial assistance of 29,300 Thai baht, while injured survivors undergoing treatment will receive 4,000 baht.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over fire safety standards in Thailand, where previous deadly blazes have exposed weaknesses in the enforcement of building and electrical regulations.
In 2022, a nightclub fire south of Bangkok killed 22 people, while one of the country’s deadliest entertainment venue disasters occurred in 2009, when 66 people died in a New Year’s nightclub fire in the capital.
Authorities say investigations into Sunday’s blaze are continuing, with forensic experts expected to determine the exact cause and whether any safety violations contributed to the loss of life.
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