At least 27 people died after a large fire broke out at a pub in Bangkok early Monday morning, according to officials. The fire erupted in the northern part of the Thai capital, sending a massive plume of black smoke into the sky.
Rescuers arrived at the scene around midnight and attended to casualties lined up on the street. Firefighters battled the blaze for approximately 30 minutes before bringing it under control. Images from the aftermath reveal the interior of the pub heavily damaged by smoke, with charred tables and chairs.
Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who was at the scene, confirmed the death toll and stated that several individuals were hospitalized. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Charnvirakul relayed information from a musician performing at the pub, who reported seeing smoke emanating from a circuit breaker near the stage shortly before the power went out. An explosion was then heard, followed by the rapid spread of thick smoke throughout the establishment. Many victims were discovered in the restrooms at the rear of the pub.
This incident is not the first of its kind in Thailand. In 2022, a fire at a music pub in the eastern part of the country resulted in 14 fatalities. More than a decade prior, a fire during a New Year's Eve celebration in 2009 at the Santika nightclub in Bangkok claimed the lives of 66 people and injured over 200, reportedly sparked by an indoor fireworks display.