At least 27 people were killed and 63 injured after a massive fire tore through a popular pub in Thailand's capital Bangkok late on Sunday, with 22 of the injured in critical condition, according to agencies.
The fire broke out at around 11:57 pm local time at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub in Bangkok's Chatuchak district. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 30 minutes, but not before flames and thick smoke engulfed the crowded venue.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the site, said 27 bodies had been recovered and that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Based on survivor accounts, he said the pub rapidly filled with smoke after the fire broke out, forcing many patrons towards the rear of the venue near the bathrooms, where there were no fire escapes.
Suriyachai Rawiwan, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said 63 people had been hospitalised. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said 22 of those injured remain in critical condition.
Officials said rescue workers found the fire had already spread through much of the venue by the time they arrived. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze.
Firefighter Chakrit Khongkom, one of the first responders, said smoke quickly overwhelmed the pub, making it difficult for people to escape.
"The fire was not that aggressive, but the smoke had engulfed 100% of the venue. The smoke was everywhere. Most of the survivors were choking on smoke," he said.
Body-camera footage seen by Reuters showed firefighters wearing oxygen masks searching the charred remains of the pub with flashlights. Several victims were found lying near the toilets while rescue workers carried stretchers into the building.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the pub had the required operating permits and designated fire exits, but the fire spread rapidly and smoke filled the room, potentially preventing many patrons from escaping in time.
Emergency personnel remained at the scene through the night as bodies were prepared for transport and forensic teams collected evidence to identify the victims.
A member of the band performing at the venue told local media that the lights briefly went out before smoke suddenly filled the room, followed by what he described as a massive explosion.
"After the explosion I didn't see anybody trying to run, most of them were on the floor asking for help," he said.
He said he managed to escape from the stage but found it almost impossible to see because of the dense smoke.
Thailand has witnessed similar nightclub tragedies in the past. In 2022, a fire at a music pub in the country's eastern province killed 14 people. In one of the country's deadliest such incidents, 66 people were killed and more than 200 injured in a fire during New Year's Eve celebrations at Bangkok's Santika nightclub in 2009, a blaze believed to have been sparked by an indoor fireworks display.
