Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1201 EAT on Monday 13 July 2026

The fire broke out near the stage of the bar in Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak district before spreading rapidly, cutting power and filling the venue with thick smoke, according to eyewitnesses.

Footage shared online showed terrified customers screaming as they rushed to escape, with some seen fleeing through the fire-engulfed entrance of Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao while their clothes were reportedly ablaze.

Firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after midnight and quickly brought the blaze under control. Most of the victims were found dead inside a bathroom, where authorities believe they had sought refuge from the flames and smoke.

Preliminary investigations by Bangkok’s disaster mitigation department indicate that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit involving an air conditioner, although authorities have not yet confirmed the official cause.

Officials have pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

The tragedy is not the first deadly fire to expose concerns over safety standards in Thailand. Despite repeated government commitments to strengthen fire prevention and electrical safety measures following previous incidents, enforcement remains a challenge.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene early Monday, said a musician performing at the bar at the time of the fire described a sudden explosion-like sound before panic broke out.

According to Anutin, the musician said customers rushed to escape as smoke and flames spread, while others moved to the back of the building and hid in the bathroom, where many were later found dead.

Firefighters, who were alerted to the blaze by a passing motorist, reportedly brought the fire under control within about 30 minutes. However, the response came too late for some victims, with authorities confirming that nine men and 18 women died in the incident.

More than 60 people are receiving medical treatment in hospital, including 22 who are in critical condition.

Initial findings indicate that most victims died from smoke inhalation, according to Suriyachai Raviwan, director of Bangkok’s disaster mitigation department.

Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt said the bar’s flammable interior decorations, particularly those on the ceiling, may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

He added that reports of people being found unconscious near the building’s emergency exit raised concerns that the escape route may have been obstructed. However, authorities said such claims can only be verified through a detailed investigation by forensic officers.

One motorcyclist, Surin Jaiharn, told AFP that he helped about five people escape the burning bar, using pieces of clothing to put out flames on their bodies.

“I feel depressed. I saw many deaths and I do not know the fate of the people I helped,” he said.

The driver who alerted emergency services told Thai news outlet Daily News that he broke windows to help two people trapped inside escape.

By Monday morning, the bar had been sealed off as investigators examined the scene. Shattered windows and damaged furniture were seen piled outside the entrance, while several body bags had been placed outside the building.

Inside, the extent of the destruction was evident, with furniture, walls and ceilings blackened by smoke and fire damage. Parts of the ceiling had collapsed, while a strong smell of burning remained in the air as investigators continued their work.

The Chatuchak district office on Monday announced that the building housing the bar would be closed for 30 days as authorities conduct investigations into the cause of the fire.

Authorities also announced financial assistance for victims’ families, with relatives of those who died set to receive 29,300 Thai baht ($880; £660), while injured survivors undergoing treatment in hospitals will receive 4,000 baht ($120; £90).

The tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly fires that have raised concerns about safety standards in Thailand’s entertainment venues.

In 2022, a fire at a bar in a town south of Bangkok killed 22 people.

On January 1, 2009, a nightclub fire in Bangkok claimed 66 lives and injured more than 200 others as revellers celebrated the New Year.

In 2024, an electrical short circuit sparked a fire at the well-known open-air Chatuchak market, killing about 1,000 animals.

-BBC

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