Bangkok music bar fire kills 30, injures over 70

Thai officials said the death toll from a fire at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar in Bangkok rose to 30 on Tuesday, with more than 70 people injured, including 24 in critical condition. The blaze broke out shortly before midnight on Sunday in the city’s northern district, and firefighters took about thirty minutes to bring it under control. Most of the victims were found trapped in windowless bathrooms, according to police.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced a citywide safety survey of similar venues and said enforcement of existing fire-safety laws would be stepped up. The bar, which markets itself as a brewery or beer hall and claims a capacity of up to 600 patrons, has not disclosed how many people were present at the time of the fire.

Relatives of the deceased gathered at the Institute of Forensic Medicine to identify and collect bodies, while mourners left flowers and handwritten messages at the cordoned-off site. The bar issued an apology on its Facebook page and pledged cooperation with investigators.

Engineering experts noted potential hazards, including low ceilings, enclosed spaces and possibly flammable decorative foam, which could have accelerated the spread of smoke. Amorn Pimanmas, president of the Thailand Structural Engineers Association, said the venue was licensed as a restaurant with a live-music area rather than an entertainment venue, which may have exempted it from stricter fire-safety requirements. He called for stricter enforcement of existing regulations.