Christian George
A devastating fire engulfed a pub in Bangkok late Sunday, leaving at least 27 people dead and 63 others injured after blocked emergency exits prevented many customers from escaping the smoke-filled building, Thai authorities reported.
Investigators said early findings point to a possible electrical short circuit involving a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit as the cause of the blaze.
However, officials stressed that the exact origin of the fire has not yet been confirmed.
Suriyachai Raviwan, director of Bangkok’s disaster mitigation department, said preliminary assessments showed that most of the victims died from smoke inhalation.
The fire started close to the stage area of the bar in Bangkok’s well-known Chatuchak district before spreading quickly throughout the premises. Witnesses said the flames caused a power outage and rapidly filled the venue with dense smoke, trapping several people inside.
Footage circulating online showed terrified customers rushing toward the entrance, with some fleeing while their clothing was still on fire.
Firefighters reached the scene shortly after midnight and managed to contain the blaze within roughly 30 minutes. Authorities discovered that many of the victims had died inside a bathroom, where they were believed to have sought refuge from the flames and smoke.
Many people did not escape because they “went to the back of the building and tried to hide themselves… in the toilet”, the musician said, according to Charnvirakul.
The victims included nine men and 18 women, while more than 60 people were taken to hospitals, with 22 reported to be in critical condition.
Survivors and witnesses described chaotic rescue attempts during the incident. Surin Jaiharn told AFP that he assisted about five people in escaping, using clothing to put out flames on their bodies.
“I feel depressed. I saw many deaths and I do not know the fate of the people I helped,” he said.
The driver who first alerted emergency services told Thai media that he broke windows to rescue two people trapped inside the building.
Authorities have opened a comprehensive investigation into the fire. The Chatuchak district office has ordered the bar’s building to remain closed for 30 days as forensic teams inspect the scene and gather evidence.
The incident adds to a growing list of deadly fires in Thailand, where questions have frequently been raised about compliance with fire prevention and electrical safety standards. A 2022 bar fire south of Bangkok killed 22 people, while a nightclub blaze in the capital on New Year’s Day in 2009 resulted in 66 deaths and left more than 200 others injured.
