A fire broke out at a popular live music venue in the Thai capital on Sunday night, killing at least 27 people and injuring 63 others. Officials said many of the victims died after becoming trapped near the bar’s bathrooms while trying to escape the smoke. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze, one of Bangkok’s deadliest in recent years.
1. Tolls
The tragedy occurred at 12:02 a.m. at the Na Ladprao restaurant near Soi Lat Phrao 1 Road, which was packed with people. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene and confirmed that 27 bodies had been found. Bangkok officials said 63 more people were hospitalized, 22 of them in critical condition. The dead include 9 men and 18 women.
2. Rush to the bathroom
According to Thai authorities, the victim died while trying to escape through the bar bathroom during the fire. “Most of the victims ran to the back and to the toilet where there was no exit. This was probably due to panic caused by the fire and smoke,” Anutin said, according to AFP.
3. Escape routes questioned
Survivors told authorities that within minutes the venue filled with smoke, forcing many people toward the back of the bar where they struggled to find escape routes, Reuters reported.Premier Chadchart Sittipunt said the venue had the necessary permits and had fire exits, but investigators were examining whether blocked exits might have contributed to the high death toll. He added that several victims were found near fire exits, which authorities believed “may have been blocked by an obstruction.”
4. The rescue team encounters obstacles
Suriyachai said emergency teams arrived at the scene within five minutes of the incident being reported, but by then the fire had spread throughout the building.“The fire has spread throughout the area, making it difficult for us to access,” he told AFP, adding that rescuers encountered obstacles inside the venue. “When we went in to search we found tables and seats everywhere blocking the way and it was hot.
5. Smoke proves most deadly
Officials said smoke, not flames, was responsible for most of the deaths. “The fire spread very quickly, all the way to the ceiling. Governor Chachat told AFP that smoke was likely the main cause of the deaths. Firefighters said smoke engulfed the entire site within minutes.Firefighter Chakrit Khongkom said: “The fire was not that intense, but the smoke had engulfed 100% of the site. The smoke was everywhere.” He added, “Most of the survivors were suffocated by the smoke.”
6. Firefighters search in the dark
Reuters reported that body camera footage showed firefighters wearing oxygen masks moving through the smoke-filled rubble of the bar, searching for survivors. As rescuers brought stretchers into the building, they found several victims lying near toilets.
7. Power outage before explosion
Suriyachai said investigators are still determining the cause of the fire. “We have to wait for the police investigation,” he told Reuters. One band member claimed that the lights briefly went out and then suddenly smoke billowed out. “After the explosion, I didn’t see anyone trying to escape, most of them were on the floor asking for help… I He ran from the stage towards the door, about five meters away. It was dark and smoky and there was no oxygen,” he said.Prime Minister Anutin said musicians described “smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage, followed by a power outage and explosion”.
8. Eyewitnesses recall horrific events
Surin Jaiharn, a motorcycle taxi driver who helped the victim escape, told AFP he saw a fire at the entrance and used his clothes to put out the fire for the victim, while another driver carried away an injured woman.Kan Kutirat, a tourist from Laos, said he first noticed smoke coming from near the stage before panic spread. “I heard a lot of people screaming loudly inside…there was chaos…the images are still in my mind,” he said.
9. Fire safety issues
The video shows the victims fleeing into the street, with several running with their clothes on fire. An AFP reporter also saw multiple body bags outside the venue as forensic teams collected evidence.The live music bar has a capacity of more than 300 people and four fire exits are listed, according to the venue’s Facebook page. The incident has also reignited scrutiny of long-standing concerns about health and safety standards in bars and nightclubs in Thailand.
10. Investigation ongoing
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities are checking that all fire exits are clear and whether there were any safety violations that led to the deaths. The tragedy also evoked memories of the Mountain B nightclub fire in 2022 that killed 25 people and the Santika Club fire in Bangkok in 2009 that killed 67 people.
