Bangkok Pub Fire Kills 27 and Injures 18 as Probe Targets Blocked Exit
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 12
Bangkok Pub Fire Kills 27 and Injures 18 as Probe Targets Blocked Exit
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 12
Summary
At least 27 people died and 18 were hospitalized after a late-night fire tore through a Bangkok pub during a live performance, with two musicians among the dead.
Witnesses said smoke rose from a circuit breaker near the stage before the power failed, an explosion followed, and flames spread rapidly along the ceiling, filling the room and cutting visibility.
Most victims were found near the back restrooms, and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said a table may have blocked a fire exit, raising questions about the venue’s layout and emergency precautions.
Authorities have opened an inquiry into the pub’s permits and legal compliance while forensic investigators work to determine the cause; the owner was reportedly among the injured.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze in under an hour, and the city said it would set up a contact center for victims and their families.