The death toll from a devastating fire at a Bangkok live music bar rose to 30 on Tuesday, Thai authorities and police confirmed, according to reports from BBC News and AP News. The inferno broke out late Sunday night at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar located in the northern Chatuchak district of the capital. Initial findings indicate that gross negligence, including locked emergency exits and a lack of visible signage, trapped dozens of patrons inside the building. Thai national police have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine criminal liability for the tragedy.
According to official statements from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, more than 70 people were injured in the blaze, with 24 patients remaining in critical condition. Forensic investigators stated that a short circuit in a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit triggered the initial sparks, which instantly cut power throughout the crowded venue. The sudden darkness induced immediate panic among the estimated 300 customers present, causing a frantic stampede toward the back of the building away from the main stage where the fire originated.
A structural inspection conducted by Busakorn Saensuk, a prominent fire safety expert from the Engineering Institute of Thailand, revealed that a crucial exit door near the restrooms was completely locked. Additionally, two main entrance doors were partially obstructed by stacked furniture and wooden crates. First responders discovered the majority of the deceased victims inside the windowless restrooms, where they had fled to escape the advancing flames but ultimately became trapped. Experts noted that if the emergency exit signs had been lit and accessible, many lives could have been saved.
What remains unclear is how the venue managed to bypass standard fire safety protocols regarding interior decorations. Witnesses reported that the stage was covered with highly flammable plastic flowers and the ceiling was lined with combustible soundproofing foam, allowing the fire to engulf the entire structure within seconds. Two members of the performing indie band, Thotsakan, were among those killed. Structural engineering professor Worsak Kanok Nukulchai explained that the burning materials produced carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, a deadly combination known as the toxic twins of fire smoke, suffocating victims before the flames even reached them.
The disaster has ignited widespread public outrage after officials confirmed the venue was registered as a restaurant with live music rather than an entertainment venue. This classification exempted the owners from stricter legal mandates requiring fire-retardant building materials. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced on Tuesday that city regulations are undergoing an immediate review to enforce uniform safety standards for all establishments. Police General Kittiratt Phanphet emphasized that investigators are treating negligence as the primary theory guiding the criminal case against the operators. Local media outlets like PBS Thai reported that the owner previously suffered a total fire loss at another pub in 2019, though that incident caused no casualties as it occurred during the day.
