Bangkok, 13 July (H.S.): At least 27 people were killed and 63 others injured after a fire broke out late Sunday night at a crowded pub in Bangkok's Chatuchak district. Of the injured, 22 are reported to be in critical condition. Authorities said most of the victims died from smoke inhalation rather than burns.
According to reports by Türkiye's state-run Anadolu Agency and France 24, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene and said preliminary investigations indicated that smoke first emerged from a circuit breaker near the stage. This was followed by a power outage and then a powerful explosion. As panic spread through the venue, many patrons rushed toward restrooms at the rear of the building, where no emergency exit was available.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the fire spread rapidly to the roof of the building. Several bodies were found near an emergency exit, raising concerns that the escape route may have been blocked by an obstruction.
Suriyachai Rawiwan, Director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said firefighters encountered tables and chairs blocking access routes inside the pub, hampering rescue operations.
Eyewitness Kan Kutirat, a tourist from Laos, said he noticed smoke rising near the stage moments before chaos erupted throughout the venue. He managed to help one woman escape but was unable to rescue anyone else.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control after nearly two hours of intensive efforts. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Thailand has faced repeated scrutiny over safety standards at bars and nightclubs. In 2022, a fire at the Mountain B nightclub in Chonburi province claimed 25 lives, while the 2009 New Year's Eve blaze at Bangkok's Santika Club killed 67 people.
Officials have begun a comprehensive investigation to establish how the fire started and whether any violations of safety regulations contributed to the tragedy.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
