At least 27 killed as Bangkok bar fire traps patrons in windowless bathrooms

A fire that erupted late Sunday at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao music bar in northern Bangkok left at least 27 people dead and 73 injured, authorities said. Most of the fatalities were discovered in windowless bathrooms near a rear exit, where victims may have sought shelter from the flames. National Police Chief Kittharath Punpetch said the exit was blocked by a candy-selling table and that darkness may have prevented people from finding alternative routes. He added that another kitchen exit appeared narrowed by shelving and that some doors might have been locked.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt attributed most deaths to smoke inhalation. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul relayed a musician’s account that smoke emerged from a circuit breaker near the stage before a power outage and an explosion, after which thick smoke filled the venue. Investigators are examining decorative materials on the ceiling and the building’s electrical wiring for possible fire-starting causes.

The single-story bar, which claims a capacity of up to 600 patrons, was fully engulfed within half an hour, and firefighters took about 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control. The incident is the city’s deadliest fire in 17 years. Police and forensic officers cordoned off the site on Monday to collect evidence.

Several Buddhist monks visited the scene to pray, and nurses distributed face masks to protect against lingering smoke. Families gathered at the Institute of Forensic Medicine to identify the deceased, including migrant workers from Laos who were employed at the bar.

The bar issued an apology on social media, confirming that its owner suffered serious injuries and is in intensive care. The tragedy follows previous large-scale nightclub fires in Thailand, including a 2022 incident that killed 14 people and a 2009 New Year’s Eve blaze that claimed 67 lives.