According to reports, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told the media on July 13th that a fire at a bar in the city, which started around 11:57 PM on July 12th, has been confirmed to have killed 27 people and injured 63, with 22 of the injured in critical condition.
Officials said most victims died from inhaling thick smoke, with many trying to hide in restrooms that lacked fire escape routes, ultimately failing to escape.
As of the time of this report, Thai authorities are still verifying the identities of all victims and have not yet released a detailed breakdown of their nationalities. The Chinese Embassy in Thailand stated that based on current information, no Chinese citizens have been found among the deceased.
The 27 victims include 18 women and 9 men, most of whom are Thai locals. It is reported that many of the bar’s employees came from Laos and other Southeast Asian countries.
According to verified video footage from officials, a cloud of smoke appeared at the bar’s entrance at the time of the fire, followed by flames erupting from the doorway seconds later, causing people to flee in panic. Many inside the bar were unaware of where the exits were and rushed around in chaos.
Firefighters took about half an hour to bring the blaze under control. A 45-year-old firefighter named Chakrit Khongkom told media that he arrived at Na Ladprao Bar on the first fire truck, noting that while the fire wasn’t initially intense, smoke had already engulfed the entire venue, making it hard for most survivors to breathe.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul rushed to the scene to oversee rescue efforts and understand the situation. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Anutin was informed that the smoke might have originated from a circuit breaker near the stage, after which the bar lost power, followed by an explosion, and soon thick smoke filled the entire building.
It is reported that the bar originally had two planned fire escape routes, but a post-fire inspection revealed that tables selling candy and groceries had blocked the area near these routes, effectively obstructing the escape paths. However, there appears to be a contradiction between Anutin and local Bangkok officials regarding whether the bar actually had functioning fire exits.
The Bangkok governor stated that the bar held a proper license for dining and live music and had fire exits, but the rapid spread of the fire likely made it difficult for customers to escape. Anutin, however, said that based on survivor accounts, the bar quickly filled with smoke after the fire started, forcing many people to run to the back near the restrooms.
The incident occurred on a busy Sunday night. This bar, fully known as Rong Beer Na Ladprao, is located in a core urban area of northern Bangkok and is popular among local youth for its live music performances, making it a well-known nighttime entertainment spot.
Thailand has experienced similar tragedies in the past. In 2022, a fire at a music bar in the eastern part of the country killed 14 people. The Santika Nightclub fire in Bangkok during New Year’s Eve celebrations in 2009 resulted in 66 deaths and over 200 injuries.