A massive fire tore through a pub in Bangkok in the early hours of Monday, killing at least 27 people and leaving several others injured, Thai officials said. The blaze swept through the venue in a matter of minutes, trapping dozens inside before firefighters managed to bring it under control.
According to the Associated Press, the fire erupted shortly after midnight at the Na Ladprao pub in northern Bangkok, prompting a large emergency response.
Bangkok Governor later said 22 of the 63 people injured in a pub fire in the Thai capital are in critical condition.
Videos shared by first responders showed flames pouring from the entrance of the building as terrified patrons rushed to escape. Thick black smoke quickly engulfed the venue, making it difficult for many people to find a way out.
Rescue workers said they received reports of the fire around midnight and immediately dispatched crews to the scene. Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the site after the blaze, confirmed that at least 27 people had died. Several others were injured and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what sparked the deadly fire.
The fire is believed to have started near the stage after smoke was seen rising from a circuit breaker, according to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the site, Mr Anutin said musicians performing at the venue noticed smoke coming from a circuit breaker on the stage moments before the electricity suddenly went out. According to the performers, the blackout was followed by an explosion, after which flames spread rapidly across the venue.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the fire quickly engulfed decorative materials on the ceiling, producing dense, toxic smoke that filled the eatery within minutes and trapped those inside.
The Prime Minister said many victims were found near the restrooms at the back of the building, indicating they had likely been trying to escape the thick smoke and flames. He added that most of the fatalities were caused by smoke inhalation rather than burns.
Firefighters battled the blaze for around 30 minutes before bringing it under control. Images from the scene later showed the pub's interior devastated, with burnt furniture, blackened walls and extensive fire damage throughout the building.
The latest disaster is one of Thailand's deadliest entertainment venue fires in recent years and has revived memories of previous tragedies. In 2022, a fire at a music pub in eastern Thailand claimed 14 lives and injured dozens more.
The country also witnessed one of its worst nightclub disasters on New Year's Day in 2009, when a blaze at Bangkok's Santika nightclub killed 66 people and injured more than 200 others. Investigators later said that fire was believed to have been triggered by an indoor fireworks display.
Source: ANI