Bangkok, Thailand. A fire at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub in northern Bangkok killed 27 people and injured 63, officials said on Monday, as police investigated possible negligence, including obstructed emergency exits.
The blaze broke out around midnight on Sunday, prompting customers to flee the burning venue as smoke spread through the building.
Investigation into cause and exits
The city’s disaster administration said its initial assessment indicated that an electrical short circuit in a ceiling air conditioner may have caused the fire.
Police said they were also examining possible issues involving fire exits, overloaded wiring and flammable materials used during renovations intended to improve sound insulation.
“At this time, police have established negligence as the primary theory guiding their investigation,” National Police chief Kittiratt Phanphet told reporters.
Victims and emergency response
Suriyachai Rawiwan, director of Bangkok’s disaster prevention and mitigation department, said 63 people were injured, including 22 in critical condition.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the site early on Monday, said many victims had run to the rear of the building and into bathrooms, where there was no clear sign of a fire exit.
Firefighter Chakrit Khongkom said he arrived with the first fire truck to find the pub engulfed in flames and several patrons stranded inside. He said some were attempting to escape through the back of the venue, while those who exited through the front had suffered burns.
“The smoke was everywhere,” he said. “Most of the survivors were choking on smoke.”
Video and location
A video posted on social media and verified by Reuters showed thick smoke coming from the pub before a horizontal plume of fire emerged from a doorway as customers screamed and fled.
The pub is located near a busy intersection in northern Bangkok, close to urban rail connections, two shopping malls, cinemas, parks and the Chatuchak weekend market. The surrounding area has several live-music bars that are typically crowded on weekend nights.
