A late-night fire swept through a crowded bar in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, killing at least 28 people and leaving dozens of others injured in one of the country's deadliest entertainment venue disasters in recent years.
The blaze broke out late on Sunday at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a popular bar in Bangkok's Chatuchak district, before spreading rapidly across the building. Witnesses said the fire started near the stage, quickly cutting off electricity and filling the premises with thick smoke as terrified customers rushed for safety.
Videos shared online showed people screaming as they ran through the burning entrance, with some escaping while their clothes were on fire.
Firefighters responded shortly after midnight and managed to contain the flames within about 30 minutes after being alerted by a passing driver. When rescue teams entered the building, they found most of the victims inside a bathroom, where they had apparently sought refuge from the smoke and flames.
"Most of the people who died were found in the toilets. When the fire broke out, they panicked. There were no lights," national police chief Kitrat Panphet said.
The tragedy left families and survivors in shock as they recounted the desperate moments inside the burning bar.
People were seen scrambling outside as a massive blaze ripped through the bar.
PHOTO/BBC
Kaew-udon Poungppany, 24, from Laos, fought back tears as he described trying to reach his younger brother, who did not survive.
"I grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed it at the door... but I couldn't go any further. I heard people screaming," he told journalists.
Another survivor escaped moments before the fire spread after stepping outside for a cigarette. Reuters reported that 41-year-old Usa Tadsree narrowly avoided the blaze.
"There was a boom – a very fast boom... There was no way to get out at all," she said.
She recalled watching rescuers carry the body of a friend she had been enjoying music with only minutes earlier.
"I lost my mind," she said. "It looked like she was asleep."
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene early on Monday and said a musician performing when the fire started told him there was "blasting" before the venue filled with smoke and flames.
According to Anutin, the musician said many people were unable to escape because they "went to the back of the building and tried to hide themselves... in the toilet".
Authorities said 71 people were injured in the fire. Of those, 25 remain in critical condition, 14 sustained moderate injuries, while another 32 suffered minor injuries, according to an update issued on Monday evening.
The owner of the bar is among those receiving treatment in intensive care.
Preliminary investigations by Bangkok's disaster mitigation department suggest the blaze may have been caused by an electrical short circuit in an air conditioner, although officials have not confirmed the exact cause.
Authorities have pledged a full investigation into the incident.
The latest tragedy has once again raised concerns over fire safety in Thailand. Similar deadly incidents have occurred in the past, and although authorities have previously promised to tighten fire and electrical safety standards, enforcement has often remained weak.