A devastating fire at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar in Bangkok’s vibrant Chatuchak district has claimed the lives of at least 27 people, according to authorities. The tragedy unfolded on Sunday evening while the Thai indie band Thotsakan was performing for a packed crowd.
The band's manager, Ice Athipat Wijarn, who was seated away from the stage, first noticed smoke emerging from behind the keyboardist, Kwang. Kwang immediately shouted for the audience to flee, but within seconds, a fierce blaze tore through the venue.
Ice Athipat Wijarn described the harrowing moments of the escape, recalling how he fumbled with the door in a room quickly engulfed by smoke. He told the Thai talk show Hone-Krasae that people were running and squeezing into each other in a desperate attempt to reach safety.
He eventually crawled toward the exit, but an explosion occurred, throwing him out of the bar. Among the victims were three members of the band: keyboardist Kwang, singer Breeze, and drummer Bew, who all succumbed to their injuries.
This was confirmed in a Facebook post by band member Patchara Songphatkaew, who also noted that the whereabouts of a male singer named Din remain unclear. Patchara expressed hope for a miracle, writing, "Let's pray things turn out well."
The band's lead singer, Tik Chaichana, managed to escape the fire unscathed only because he had gone to the washroom moments before the blaze began. Online videos captured him sobbing as he fled the burning building. He later posted on Facebook, stating that he was safe but that his phone and belongings had been destroyed, adding that his mind was not okay following the event.
Footage shared online showed panicked customers screaming as they fled through the flaming front door, with some individuals seen with their clothes on fire. Thai authorities report that more than 60 people are currently being treated in hospitals, with eight of them in critical condition.
Local residents expressed shock at the scale of the disaster. Titi Liewcha, who lives across the street, described seeing firefighters working everywhere and ambulances filling the area, noting that he was stunned by the intensity of the flames.
Another resident, Sirinya, mentioned that she initially feared the fire would spread to nearby homes, adding that this was the first time she had witnessed such a major fire.
Sirinya also expressed concern that such tragedies could happen again due to the high number of similar pubs in the area. She recalled visiting the bar previously, describing it as very dark with a low ceiling and unclear fire escape routes.
Phatsara Khamloet, who visited the pub in May, echoed these concerns, describing the interior as a dark, maze-like space. She noted that the venue was so dark it appeared closed from the outside, and she had to navigate a winding route to reach the washroom. She specifically recalled thinking at the time that it would be difficult to escape in the event of a fire because the exits were not well marked.
Bangkok governor Chatchart Sittipunt stated on Monday that flammable interior decorations on the ceiling likely facilitated the rapid spread of the fire. He also noted reports of people found unconscious near the emergency exit, suggesting it may have been obstructed, though he emphasized that a thorough investigation is required to confirm these details.
The incident has reinforced calls for authorities to strengthen fire safety standards and provide proper training for staff in the nightlife industry. A local driver working near the bar suggested that venue owners should hold regular fire drills to familiarize employees with evacuation procedures and that doors should be designed with more width to make it easier for customers to escape.
He expressed deep sympathy for the victims, noting that they likely had no idea what was happening when the fire broke out.
Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters were able to bring the flames under control in about half an hour. Despite their efforts, nine men and 18 women were killed.
"The moment I stepped in, my first feeling was, 'Whoa, if there's a fire, how would we even get out?'"
