A severe fire engulfed a pub in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district early Monday morning, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens more. Emergency responders reported that thick smoke and rapidly spreading flames trapped many victims inside the restrooms of the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao venue as they attempted to take shelter.
The disaster has immediately renewed scrutiny over Thailand’s long-standing struggles with lax building regulations and poor fire safety enforcement at commercial entertainment venues. Fire crews managed to bring the blaze under control within 35 minutes after receiving the initial distress calls around midnight local time.
Initial reports from a musician performing at the venue suggest the fire started when smoke emerged from a circuit breaker near the stage, followed by a sudden power outage and an explosion. Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrived at the scene, stating that authorities have launched a formal investigation into the exact cause of the disaster. Officials have also established a dedicated hotline for families attempting to locate missing persons.
This incident marks the latest in a grim historical pattern of fatal venue fires across the country. The Monday morning tragedy draws direct comparisons to a 2022 music pub fire in eastern Thailand that claimed 14 lives, as well as the catastrophic New Year’s Eve fire at the Santika nightclub in 2009 that killed 66 people, according to the AP.