Deadly Fire Engulfs Bangkok Pub, Killing at least 27

Rescuers work at the site of a fire in Bangkok, Thailand (Picture credit: AP)

A massive fire ripped through a pub in Thailand’s capital Bangkok early Monday, killing at least 27 people and leaving several others injured, officials said. The blaze broke out around midnight at an entertainment venue in the northern part of the city, sending thick black smoke into the sky as terrified patrons tried to escape, according to footage shared by first responders. Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene and confirmed the death toll. "Twenty-seven people died and several have been taken to the hospital," he told reporters, adding that the cause of the fire was still under investigation, reported news agency AP.

Fire engulfed pub as people tried to escape

Emergency crews were alerted to the fire shortly before midnight. Videos from the scene showed flames violently spreading from the entrance of the pub as people gathered outside and attempted to flee. According to The Sun, the venue, identified as "Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao" in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, was engulfed by flames within minutes of the fire breaking out. Rescue teams initially found one person suffering from burns but later discovered that several others were trapped inside the building. Local media reports suggested that some victims sought shelter inside the venue’s toilets during the blaze, with many of those killed reportedly found in the restrooms. Firefighters from multiple stations battled the flames using water hoses and managed to bring the blaze under control in about half an hour, officials said. Photos from the aftermath showed a badly damaged interior, with charred tables and chairs covered in ash as rescue workers searched the site.

Thailand has history of deadly nightclub fires

The latest tragedy has revived concerns over fire safety standards at entertainment venues in Thailand, where similar incidents have occurred in the past. In 2022, a fire at a music pub in eastern Thailand killed 14 people. The country’s deadliest nightclub fire occurred more than a decade earlier, when 66 people were killed and over 200 injured during a New Year’s Eve celebration at the Santika nightclub in Bangkok in 2009. That fire was reportedly triggered by an indoor fireworks display. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of Monday’s blaze and are examining how the fire spread so quickly and whether safety measures at the venue were adequate.