At least 28 killed in Bangkok bar fire as blaze engulfs popular venue

A massive fire tore through a bar in Thailand’s capital Bangkok on Sunday night, killing at least 28 people and leaving 25 critically injured. The blaze broke out near the stage of Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a popular restaurant and bar in the Chatuchak district, before spreading rapidly, cutting power and filling the room with smoke. Footage posted online showed panicked customers screaming as they fled, some with their clothes on fire, through the flame-enveloped front door.

“Most of the people who died were found in the toilets. When the fire broke out, they panicked. There were no lights,” national police chief Kitrat Panphet said. Kaew-udon Poungppany, 24, from Laos, fought back tears as he described trying to reach his younger brother, who did not survive. “I grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed it at the door… but I couldn’t go any further. I heard people screaming,” he told journalists.

Firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after the blaze started and managed to bring it under control, but the damage was extensive. Confronting images emerged showing many body bags lined up outside the bar. Inside, furniture, walls, and the ceiling were completely blackened, with parts of the ceiling peeled off. When the BBC arrived at the scene on Monday, an acrid smell of burning lingered in the air.

Preliminary investigations by Bangkok’s disaster mitigation department suggest the fire could have been caused by an electrical short circuit in an air conditioner, though no official cause has been given. Authorities have promised a thorough investigation. The Chatuchak district office announced on Monday that the building where the bar is located would be closed for 30 days.

Authorities said families of the deceased would be given 29,300 Thai baht ($880), while those receiving treatment in hospitals would receive compensation. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Thailand. Despite official promises to improve fire and electrical safety standards following previous incidents, enforcement remains poor. The tragedy has once again raised concerns about safety regulations in nightlife venues, with calls for stricter enforcement and better emergency preparedness to prevent such disasters in the future. As the investigation continues, the nation mourns the loss of those who perished in the devastating blaze.