Bangkok Bar Fire Leaves 28 Dead, 25 Critically Injured
A huge fire erupted late Sunday night in the popular Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, brutally claiming 28 lives and leaving 25 others in critical condition. The blaze started near the bar’s stage and spread rapidly, cutting power and filling the room with thick smoke. Eyewitness footage shows patrons screaming, some with clothes set aflame, as they fled the front door.
Firefighters arrived just after midnight, extinguishing the flames in less than an hour. Most victims were found in a bathroom where people had taken shelter, but the rapid spread and smoke inhalation wiped out many before they could escape.
Preliminary reports point to a possible electrical short in an air‑conditioner as the spark, but a formal investigation is still pending. Authorities have condemned the incident and promised a thorough probe into the cause and safety violations. The building has been locked off for thirty days and will undergo inspection.
Survivors recount the chaos: a 41‑year‑old woman stepped out for a cigarette and escaped moments later, while another shared that rescuers carried a friend’s body out minutes after the fire. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene on Monday morning, stating that the music in the bar had gone into a frantic pace as people tried to flee.
Experts say the fire’s rapid spread was aided by flammable interior decorations, especially the ceiling, and that blocked emergency exits may have trapped many. An estimate of 71 injuries has been issued – 14 moderately, 32 slightly and 25 in critical condition, with the bar owner in intensive care.
Bangkok governor Chatchart Sittipunt highlighted that fire safety enforcement has historically lagged, despite past promises to improve standards after similar tragedies. He warned that obstructions at emergency exits could increase fatalities, urging comprehensive safety reviews for all nightlife venues.
The tragedy follows past fatal Thai nightclub incidents, including a 2009 fire that claimed 66 lives, and a 2022 bar blaze that killed 22 people. Community leaders and authorities are demanding tighter regulations and better fire prevention measures across the city.
