At least 27 people were killed and more than 60 injured when a fire engulfed a popular pub in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district just after midnight on Monday, in one of the deadliest such incidents to hit the Thai capital in recent years. The blaze at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub spread rapidly through the venue, filling it with thick smoke and trapping many patrons near the restrooms at the back of the building before firefighters could bring the flames under control.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the site in the early hours of Monday, told reporters that 27 bodies had been recovered and others were taken to hospital. “Twenty-seven bodies were moved out, lifeless bodies,” he said in televised remarks from the scene. “Some were sent to hospitals, we are checking their conditions.” The dead comprised nine men and 18 women, according to local reports. Another 63 people were hospitalised, said Suriyachai Rawiwan, a Bangkok metropolitan administration official, and 22 of those were in critical condition, the governor told reporters.
The fire broke out near the stage. A musician performing at the venue told the prime minister that he saw smoke coming from a circuit breaker before the power went out, then an explosion was heard and thick smoke quickly filled the place. Anutin recounted the musician’s account to reporters. “He said that there was a fire at the cut-out switch, and after that things happened very quickly. There was blasting and everybody tried to flee from the smoke and flames.” Many of the dead were found in the toilets at the back of the building, where people had tried to hide themselves from the smoke and flames, the prime minister said.
Trapped near the restrooms
“After the explosion I didn’t see anybody trying to run, most of them were on the floor asking for help,” a band member told reporters, speaking with a bandaged head and without giving his name. “I ran towards the door from the stage, about five metres. It was dark, and there was smoke, no oxygen.” By the time rescue workers arrived, the fire had already burned through the area, Suriyachai said. Firefighters brought the flames under control in about half an hour.
Body-camera footage from an emergency worker, seen by Reuters, showed firefighters in oxygen masks moving through the darkened remains with torches as they searched for survivors. Several victims lay prone on the floor near the pub’s toilets while rescue workers carried stretchers. The video also showed the fire-damaged main room of the venue, with bar tables and stools still visible. Footage posted on X showed flames blasting out of the bar as people ran out, some screaming, some falling over, and at least two people appeared to be on fire. People were seen trying to flee as thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
A passing driver saw the blaze. He told the Daily News that he saw the venue on fire at 23:30 local time, leapt out of his car, and broke windows to help two people escape. Firefighters were called to the scene just after midnight. The pub, named locally as Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao and also referred to as Na Ladprao, is a popular restaurant and entertainment venue in the Chatuchak area, the Daily News reported. Footage shared online by first responders showed a huge blaze raging and plumes coming out of the front door.
Questions about exits and decorations
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the pub had procured proper permits and had fire exits, but flammable interior decorations meant the fire spread quickly and smoke filled the room, making it hard for patrons to escape. He told the Daily News that there were initial, heartbreaking reports that tables selling candy and other merchandise had been set up and obstructing the fire exits, though he stressed that the matter required a thorough and official investigation by forensic officers. “We have to wait for the police to investigate,” Suriyachai said. The cause remains under investigation. A number of people were still missing, Thai outlet Thairath reported.
Photos of the aftermath showed charred tables and chairs, and the damaged interior of the pub. Inside, the furniture, walls, and ceiling were completely blackened, and parts of the ceiling were peeling off. Many body bags were lined up outside the bar, and a large cordon surrounded the area. In the early hours of the morning, emergency personnel remained at the scene as bodies were prepared for transport and forensic teams collected evidence to help identify the victims.