Bangkok: Thai authorities are investigating whether negligence and serious fire safety failures contributed to the devastating blaze that tore through a popular Bangkok bar, leaving at least 30 people dead and more than 70 others injured.
Police say preliminary findings point to multiple safety violations, including locked emergency exits, inadequate evacuation signage, and the extensive use of highly flammable decorative materials that may have accelerated the spread of the fire. Investigators are also examining whether the venue complied with existing fire safety regulations.
According to Police General Kittiratt Phanphet, the fire appears to have started near the stage after a suspected short circuit in an air-conditioning unit, which quickly caused a power outage across the venue. The loss of electricity may have plunged the bar into darkness, making evacuation even more difficult.
Emergency responders discovered many of the victims inside the restrooms at the rear of the establishment, where experts believe they became trapped while trying to escape the flames. Authorities had identified 27 of the deceased, while 24 of the more than 70 injured remain in critical condition.
Fire safety expert Busakorn Saensuk, from the Engineering Institute of Thailand, inspected the site and reported that the door near the restroom area was locked, while the main entrance doors were partially blocked by furniture and other obstacles. She explained that customers instinctively fled away from the flames toward the back of the venue but found no accessible exit.
Busakorn also noted that emergency exit signs were either absent or not illuminated, preventing patrons from locating escape routes in the smoke-filled environment. She further revealed that the stage featured highly combustible plastic flower decorations, while the ceiling was lined with flammable foam, allowing the fire to spread rapidly within seconds.
Survivors described scenes of panic as flames engulfed the performance stage almost instantly. Thai indie band Thotsakan, which was performing when the fire erupted, confirmed that two of its members lost their lives in the tragedy.
Structural engineering expert Professor Worsak Kanok Nukulchai said many victims likely died from inhaling toxic smoke before suffering burns. He explained that burning plastic and foam released dangerous gases, including carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, which are among the most lethal substances produced during building fires.
Authorities also revealed that the establishment, Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, was officially registered as a ‘restaurant with live music’ rather than an ‘entertainment venue.’ Under current regulations, the classification meant it was not legally required to use fire-retardant construction and decorative materials.
Following the tragedy, Bangkok’s Metropolitan Administration announced it is reviewing regulations governing fire safety standards for restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues to prevent similar disasters in the future.
Local reports also indicated that the owner of Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao had previously operated another pub in Yasothon province that was destroyed by fire in 2019. No fatalities occurred in that earlier incident because it happened during daytime hours when the venue was closed.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to determine responsibility for one of Thailand’s deadliest nightlife fires in recent years.
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