Bangkok pub fire kills at least 27, officials say

A massive fire engulfed a bar in Bangkok, killing at least 27 people before firefighters brought the blaze under control, authorities said.

Footage shared online by first responders showed a massive fire and smoke billowing from the front door of Na Ladprao bar in the northern part of the Thai capital early Monday morning.

People can be seen trying to escape as thick black smoke rises into the sky.

Rescuers said the fire was reported around midnight.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters at the scene that 27 people died and many injured were hospitalized.

He said the cause of the fire was being investigated.

Anutin said a musician performing at the bar told him that he saw smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out, then an explosion was heard and the venue quickly filled with thick smoke.

Anutin added that most of the victims were found in the restrooms at the back of the bar.

It took firefighters about half an hour to bring the fire under control.

Post-incident photographs show charred tables and chairs and the damaged interior of the bar.

Thai public broadcaster Thai PBS World reported that at least 30 people died in a fire that broke out in a packed pub.

Thailand has witnessed similar tragedies in the past.

In 2022, 14 people died in a fire at a music bar in the eastern part of the country.

And more than a decade ago, on January 1, 2009, a fire broke out during a New Year’s Eve celebration at the Santika nightclub in the Thai capital, killing 66 people and injuring more than 200.

It appears that the fire was caused by an indoor fireworks display.

with DPA