At least 28 people have been killed and dozens of others injured after a massive fire tore through a popular bar in the Thai capital, Bangkok.
The blaze broke out late on Sunday at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar in the city’s popular Chatuchak district.
Witnesses described scenes of terror as flames quickly engulfed the venue, cutting power and trapping panicked customers in thick, black smoke.
Of the 71 people injured, 25 remain in a critical condition in intensive care, including the owner of the bar.
Trapped in the dark
Many of the victims are believed to have died from smoke inhalation after seeking refuge in the building’s toilets.
“Most of the people who died were found in the toilets. When the fire broke out, they panicked. There were no lights,” said national police chief Kitrat Panphet.
Surviving witnesses spoke of their desperation as they tried to escape. Kaew-udon Poungppany, 24, told reporters he tried to use a fire extinguisher 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 said.
Another survivor, Usa Tadsree, 41, escaped by seconds after stepping outside for a cigarette. “There was a boom – a very fast boom… There was no way to get out at all,” she told the Reuters news agency, describing the horror of seeing rescuers carry out the body of a friend she had been drinking with moments earlier.
Investigation underway
Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt said highly flammable decorations on the bar’s ceiling may have caused the fire to spread at an extreme rate.
He added that several victims were found unconscious near the emergency exit, raising concerns that the escape route may have been blocked.
While forensic teams are still investigating, the city’s disaster mitigation department suggested an electrical short circuit in an air conditioning unit may have triggered the blaze.
The local district office has ordered the building to be closed for 30 days while the investigation continues.
A history of safety failures
The disaster has reignited anger over lax safety standards in Thailand’s nightlife venues, where regulations are frequently poorly enforced despite repeated promises of reform.
The nation has suffered similar tragedies in recent years:
- 2022: A fire at a bar south of Bangkok claimed 22 lives.
- 2009: A notorious New Year’s Day blaze at a Bangkok nightclub killed 66 people and injured more than 200.
The government has announced financial compensation for the victims, offering 29,300 baht ($880; £660) to the families of the deceased and 4,000 baht ($120; £90) to those undergoing hospital treatment.
Add Comment