Thai police are investigating potential safety failures at a Bangkok bar following a fire that resulted in multiple fatalities. The blaze, which occurred at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, is preliminarily believed to have been started by a short circuit in an air conditioning unit, causing a rapid power outage throughout the venue.
Survivors and first responders have reported that doors were locked and emergency exit signs were not illuminated, hindering escape efforts. Busakorn Saensuk, a fire safety expert from the Engineering Institute of Thailand, stated that a door near the restrooms was found locked, while the main entrance doors were partially blocked by furniture and other items.
"Customers would instinctively have run away from the fire, towards the back where the restrooms were," Saensuk told BBC Thai. "But once they reached the back, they couldn't get out. If the emergency signs were lit, people would have been able to see how the door was locked and may have been able to unlock it."
The investigation also encompasses the materials used in the bar's decoration. Saensuk noted that the stage area was adorned with highly flammable materials, including plastic flowers, and the ceiling was covered in combustible foam. Witnesses described flames engulfing the stage within seconds of the fire starting.
The band Thotsakan, an indie group performing at the venue when the fire broke out, lost two of its members in the incident. The full extent of the investigation and any potential charges are pending the conclusion of the police probe into the safety lapses.