At least 27 people were killed and 18 others injured after a devastating fire tore through a bar in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao area, Chatuchak district, in the early hours of Monday.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who visited the scene at around 2.40am, said authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight. Police and forensic officers have taken over the site to conduct a detailed examination and determine how the fire started.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said preliminary observations showed the flames spread rapidly across the building’s ceiling, while many of the plastic tables and chairs inside the premises were left largely intact.
Authorities are still working to identify the victims, with Chadchart urging family members to follow official updates through the designated coordination centre while medical personnel complete the identification process.
According to the BMA’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the victims comprised nine men and 18 women, while another 18 people were injured, including eight who remain in critical condition.
Officials believe most of the victims died from smoke inhalation, although the exact causes of death will only be confirmed after forensic examinations and the completion of the investigation.
Initial findings also revealed that several victims were discovered near an emergency exit on the left side of the building, raising concerns that the escape route may have been obstructed. However, Chadchart stressed that investigators have yet to reach any conclusions and that further examinations are required.
The governor said the BMA will review the establishment’s operating licence and inspect its compliance with fire safety regulations, including the number and condition of emergency exits, the visibility of exit signs, and whether evacuation routes were blocked.
Meanwhile, Thai media reported that Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene early Monday morning and received a briefing from officials investigating the incident.
According to Anutin, a musician performing at the venue told him that the fire appeared to have started near an electrical switchboard before spreading rapidly throughout the premises.
“He said the fire began around the electrical switchboard, and everything happened very quickly after that. There were several explosions, and everyone tried to escape the smoke and flames,” Anutin said.
Authorities have emphasised that the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
