Bangkok bar fire kills at least 27, injures dozens

A fire tore through the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar in Bangkok late Sunday night, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens. Officials, witnesses and video verified by AFP showed patrons fleeing screaming as flames shot from the entrance. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt confirmed the toll to reporters at the scene early Monday.

What happened at the Bangkok bar fire?

A fire broke out at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar on Bangkok's outskirts late Sunday, spreading rapidly to the ceiling. At least 27 people died and 63 were hospitalised, including 22 in critical condition. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said smoke was likely the main cause of death, and authorities have opened an investigation.

An AFP journalist saw several body bags outside the venue early Monday morning as dozens of emergency workers gathered at the scene. Officials believe a fire exit near where several victims were found may have been obstructed. "We do not know how many people were inside but it was likely many," Chadchart said.

How did witnesses describe the fire?

Motorbike taxi driver Surin Jaiharn, 45, said he saw flames burst into the street from the bar door and helped roughly five people escape with burnt and blistering skin. He used clothing to smother flames on their bodies while another driver carried a female victim to safety. "I feel depressed. I saw many deaths and I do not know the fate of the people I helped," he told AFP.

Laotian tourist Kan Kutirat said he heard loud screaming and chaos inside the bar. He shared a video, verified by AFP, showing patrons with their shirts ablaze fleeing into the street as flames surged from the door. Kan said he had been drinking alone near the stage around 10:00 pm (1500 GMT) when he noticed smoke rising. He managed to carry one woman out before smoke overwhelmed the venue. "I could only get one person out. I tried my best. I'm sorry," he wrote in a social media post.

What caused the explosion at the bar?

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene and said musicians at the venue described smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage, followed by a power outage and an explosion. He said most victims ran toward the back of the bar, into toilets with no exit, likely in a panic caused by the fire and smoke. Anutin confirmed the same death toll of 27, as did local police.

Suriyachai Rawiwan, head of Bangkok's disaster prevention department, said crews arrived five minutes after the fire was reported. By then, the blaze had spread through the entire venue, making entry difficult. "When we went in to search, we found tables and seating blocking the way everywhere, and the heat was intense," he told AFP. Most victims' bodies were found in a rear restroom.

Has Thailand had similar bar fires before?

Thailand's lax enforcement of health and safety rules in bars and nightclubs has drawn scrutiny for years. In 2022, 25 people died when a fire tore through the Mountain B nightclub in Chonburi province. In 2009, a fire at Bangkok's Santika club during a New Year's Eve party killed 67 people and injured more than 200.

The Rong Beer venue, which had a stage, two bars, a kitchen and four fire exits, had a stated capacity of more than 300 people, according to a Facebook post promoting a show this month. Thai national police said the fire was brought under control by around 2:00 am Monday, though the full cause remains under investigation.