Bangkok music bar fire kills 30, injures over 70

The death toll from a fire at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar in Bangkok rose to 30 on Tuesday, officials said, while more than 70 people were injured, including 24 in critical condition, according to a statement from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

The blaze, the deadliest in the city in 17 years, erupted late Sunday in the city’s northern district and took firefighters about half an hour to contain. The venue, described as a brewery or beer hall, claimed a capacity of up to 600 patrons, though the exact number present at the time of the fire remains unknown.

Police indicated that most of the fatalities occurred in windowless bathrooms where victims may have sought refuge from the flames.

"I have ordered the city’s administration to conduct a sweeping survey of such establishments to assess risks and will step up enforcement of existing laws to improve safety standards," Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said.

The president of the Thailand Structural Engineers Association, Amorn Pimanmas, observed several risk factors that could have intensified the fire, noting the building’s enclosed design, low ceilings and possible use of foam without flame-retardant treatment, which could have caused rapid smoke buildup and toxic conditions. He added that the bar was licensed as a restaurant with a live-music venue rather than as an entertainment venue, placing it outside stricter fire-safety regulations.

Mourners and former patrons gathered at the site on Tuesday, leaving flowers and handwritten messages in Thai, Korean and other languages. Debris, including melted musical instruments and charred chairs, was moved to the sidewalk by investigators as part of the ongoing inquiry into the fire’s cause.