A massive fire engulfed a pub in Bangkok early Monday, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens before firefighters brought the blaze under control, officials said.
Footage shared online by first responders shows a large fire raging and smoke billowing from the front of the Na Ladprao pub in the northern part of the Thai capital. People were seen attempting to flee the building as thick black smoke ascended into the sky. The fire was reported around midnight, according to rescuers.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated at the scene that 27 people had died and that the cause of the fire is under investigation. A musician performing at the pub reported seeing smoke emanating from a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out, followed by an explosion and the rapid spread of smoke, Charnvirakul added. Many victims were discovered in the restrooms at the rear of the pub.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt confirmed that 63 individuals were transported to the hospital, with 22 in critical condition. Authorities are working to identify victims, many of whom were found without identification or in an unconscious state. Firefighters took approximately 30 minutes to bring the fire under control. Photos from the scene depict charred tables and chairs, along with extensive damage to the pub's interior.
A registration area was established to collect information from relatives arriving at the scene in search of loved ones.
Singer Sukanya Wongwongwai, who was performing nearby, rushed to the scene after hearing about the fire, as several of her bandmates were performing at the pub. She reported that one bandmate died, three were hospitalized, and one remained unaccounted for. "From what I heard from people who were inside, when the fire started everything went dark. The power was out and there was smoke everywhere, so they couldn’t locate other people," she said.
Thailand has experienced similar incidents in the past. In 2022, a fire at a music pub in the eastern part of the country resulted in 14 deaths. More than a decade prior, on January 1, 2009, a fire during a New Year's Eve celebration at the Santika nightclub in Bangkok killed 66 people and injured over 200. That blaze was reportedly ignited by an indoor fireworks display.