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Police in Thailand raised the death toll from the fire at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district to 30 on Monday while confirming dozens of injuries and launching a full inquiry into safety violations at the venue. According to Police General Kittiratt Phanphet the rapid spread of flames indicated a lack of caution and disregard for the safety of patrons. First responders located many of the victims inside the restrooms at the rear of the single-story bar where they had apparently sought shelter as power failed and smoke filled the space.
A preliminary police assessment traced the blaze to a short circuit in an air conditioning unit near the stage late on Sunday which quickly cut electricity throughout the establishment. Fire safety expert Busakorn Saensuk who inspected the site on behalf of the Engineering Institute of Thailand reported that the stage featured plastic flowers and the ceiling was covered in combustible foam both of which accelerated the fire. She added that one rear door near the restrooms had been locked while furniture obstructed the main entrances leaving customers with few options once the interior became engulfed.
Survivors described the bar as dimly lit with a confusing layout and inadequate signage for emergency exits a situation one previous visitor named Phatsara Khamloet noted during an earlier trip in May. Professor Worsak Kanok Nukulchai a structural engineering specialist told reporters that most fatalities likely resulted from inhalation of toxic smoke containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide before victims suffered burns. The Thai indie band Thotsakan performing at the time lost two members in the incident according to statements from associates.
Bangkok authorities had registered the premises as a restaurant offering live music rather than a dedicated entertainment venue exempting it from mandatory use of fire-retardant materials the Metropolitan Administration confirmed. In response to the deaths the administration disclosed plans to review regulations on allowable construction and decorative materials for both restaurants and nightlife establishments across the city. PBS Thai reported that the bar’s owner had previously operated a pub in Yasothon province that burned down in December 2019 though that daytime fire caused no casualties.
The incident adds to a series of deadly fires at Thai entertainment venues where similar safety shortcomings have been documented over the past two decades. The Nation Thailand outlined the 2009 Santika Club fire in Bangkok that killed 67 people and injured more than 200 according to official tallies after flammable insulation ignited during a New Year’s event. Government records also place the death toll from a 2022 fire at the Mountain B nightclub in Chonburi at 26 with investigators citing soundproof foam and blocked exits as key factors.
A succession of Thai engineering reviews has pointed to recurring problems such as overcrowding inadequate electrical systems and poor enforcement of building codes in the nightlife sector. Successive administrations pledged improved inspections after earlier tragedies yet compliance checks have remained inconsistent according to assessments by local authorities. Police officials indicated the current investigation will determine whether the bar fulfilled even the limited obligations tied to its registration status.
