Fire at Bangkok pub kills at least 27 people

A massive fire engulfed a popular pub in Bangkok's Chatuchak district in the early hours of Monday morning, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens more in one of Thailand's deadliest nightlife disasters in years.

Blaze at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao

The fire broke out around midnight local time at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a beer house near Soi Ladprao 1, according to Thai PBS World. Firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene as flames rapidly consumed the establishment. The Associated Press reported that firefighters took approximately 35 minutes to bring the blaze under control.world.thaipbs+1

Many of the victims were reportedly trapped inside restrooms when the fire spread, according to The Sun. Preliminary investigations confirmed at least 27 deaths, with dozens more suffering injuries of varying severity.semissourian+2

Prime Minister Visits Scene

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene following the tragedy, as authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. The incident has raised fresh questions about safety standards at entertainment venues across Thailand, a country that has seen several deadly nightlife fires in recent decades.thesun

Thailand's History of Nightclub Fires

The disaster echoes previous tragedies in Thailand's entertainment industry. In 2022, a fire at the Mountain B pub in Chonburi province killed at least 14 people, with flammable soundproofing materials blamed for the rapid spread of flames. In 2009, 59 people died when a fire swept through the Santika Club in Bangkok during New Year's celebrations. After the Mountain B fire, then-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered an investigation and urged entertainment venues to ensure adequate emergency exits and safety measures. The recurrence of such incidents suggests those calls have gone unheeded.aljazeera+3