At least 27 people were killed and 63 injured after a massive fire tore through the Na Ladprao pub in northern Bangkok. The blaze, reported around midnight, is one of the deadliest such incidents in the tourism hub in recent years.
Footage shared by first responders showed a huge blaze raging with plumes of smoke billowing from the front door. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that the fire spread rapidly and that smoke is believed to be the main cause of death. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul noted that many victims were found in the restrooms at the back of the pub. Firefighters took about half an hour to bring the fire under control, leaving the interior of the pub charred.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters that a musician performing at the venue saw smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage. According to the musician, the power then went out and an explosion was heard before thick smoke quickly filled the building.
Thailand has seen similar tragedies in the past. In 2022, 14 people died in a fire at a music pub in the eastern part of the country. More than a decade prior, a New Year’s Eve celebration at the Santika nightclub in Bangkok resulted in 66 deaths and more than 200 injuries after a blaze was apparently sparked by an indoor fireworks display.