A devastating fire erupted in a Bangkok music bar overnight, claiming at least 27 lives and leaving 25 others in critical condition. This marks the deadliest fire in the Thai capital in 17 years. The blaze broke out at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar, situated in a northern area of Bangkok, just before midnight on Sunday. Firefighters managed to control it within half an hour.
The bar, which markets itself as a beer hall and live music venue, can accommodate up to 600 patrons. It remains unclear how many guests were present on Sunday night. According to Bangkok’s Erawan emergency services center, there were 73 injuries reported, with 25 considered critical.
The Bangkok city government later updated the death toll to 28, slightly higher than Erawan’s count. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt noted that most deaths resulted from smoke inhalation. By Monday morning, the site was sealed off as forensic officers meticulously searched for clues about the fire’s cause.
“Debris, including burnt TV sets and instruments, littered the sidewalk. The devastation inside was evident from the street, with charred tables and empty beer bottles visible through shattered windows.”
Trapped in Bathroom
Thai national police chief Kittharath Punpetch revealed that many victims were found trapped in windowless bathrooms near a rear exit. This exit, although present, was obstructed by a candy-selling table or too dark to locate during evacuation attempts. An alternative exit near the kitchen may have been narrowed by shelves and lockers. Some exit doors might have been locked, according to Kittharath.
Investigators are examining the ceiling above the stage. There is suspicion about the use of combustible materials as decor. Police are also checking how electrical wiring was installed above. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that a musician performing at the bar reported seeing smoke from a circuit breaker near the stage before a power outage and explosion.
Social media videos captured flames engulfing the single-story building, accompanied by thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Community Response
Buddhist monks visited the site Monday morning, offering prayers for the deceased, while nurses distributed face masks to protect against smoke. A registration spot was set up for relatives seeking information about missing loved ones.
Singer Sukanya Wongwongwai, whose bandmates were performing at the bar, lost a member to the fire. Three others were hospitalized, and one was unaccounted for until later confirmed hospitalized. She shared, “When the fire began, everything turned dark. Power failed, and smoke surrounded them, unable to locate others.”
The bar expressed condolences on Facebook, cooperating fully with investigators, while its owner remains in intensive care.
Families Identifying Victims
In the afternoon, grieving families assembled at Bangkok’s Institute of Forensic Medicine to identify the fire’s victims. One distressed woman, identifying herself only as Nid, spoke of recognizing her daughter and son-in-law among the deceased. Her son-in-law was a diligent worker; her daughter recently began a teaching career.
Keo Oudone Poungpany, also present at the institute, identified his younger brother’s body. They were both employees at the bar that night. Poungpany recounted being outside when the fire started, witnessing people fleeing and hearing loud noises. The intense heat prevented him from re-entering the bar as he searched for his brother.
He expressed a desire to bring his brother’s body back home to their parents. A similar fire in 2022 killed 14 at another Thai music venue; in 2009, 67 died in a New Year’s Eve blaze at Bangkok’s Santika nightclub, ignited by an indoor fireworks display.