The death toll from a fire that tore through a live music pub in Bangkok’s northern Chatuchak district has risen to 30 on Tuesday, making it the deadliest venue fire in the Thai capital in 17 years, with 24 people still in critical condition and police investigating possible negligence and safety breaches.
The blaze erupted shortly before midnight on Sunday at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub, a single-storey beer hall near train stations and two shopping malls that claimed capacity for up to 600 customers. Witnesses described an explosion followed by a horizontal burst of fire that rapidly engulfed the venue while Thai indie band Thotsakan was performing on stage. Three band members died in the fire, including keyboardist Kwang, vocalist Breeze and drummer Bew. Many victims were found dead in windowless bathrooms at the rear of the building where they had fled to escape the flames.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said preliminary inspections suggested highly flammable ceiling decorations accelerated the blaze, and confirmed that blocked emergency exits were under investigation. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene, said many victims died after running toward the rear instead of finding a clear exit.
Preliminary findings point to an electrical fault near the stage as the likely cause. The venue had reportedly passed a recent safety inspection. Thailand’s last comparable disaster was in 2009 when 67 people died in a New Year’s Eve nightclub fire in Bangkok.
