At least 27 deaths from a fire at a nightclub in Thailand, dozens injured

According to authorities, the flames broke out near the bar scene “Rong Beer Nat Phrao”, in the area known as Chattuchak, and spread rapidly across the environment. The Witnesses said that the fire cut power and filled the hall with dense smoke, causing panic among customers.

The images published on social networks show people trying to escape through the flames, while some of them were on fire in their clothes.

Firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after midnight and managed to put fire under control within about 30 minutes. During the raids, the bodies of most of the victims were found in one of the bar's toilets, where they are believed to have been sheltered to escape the flames.

The preliminary balance speaks of 27 victims, among them 18 women and 9 men. Over 60 are receiving hospital treatment, while 22 are in critical condition.

The first investigations suggest the cause of the fire may have been an electrical defect in an air conditioning, though authorities stress that the official cause will be determined only after expertise.

Bangkok's Disaster Management Department Director announced that most victims allegedly lost their lives as a result of smoke asphyxia.

Meanwhile, Bangkok's governor said the lightly used materials in the ceiling decoration may have favoured the rapid spread of the flames. He added that unconscious persons have been found near the emergency exit, which raises doubts that this exit may have been blocked, though this remains to be confirmed by investigations.

Thailand's prime minister, Anutin Charnviraku, visited the scene and said that, according to a musician performing at the moment of the fire explosion, an explosion was first heard, and later those present tried to flee from smoke and flames. Many of them, instead of going out, headed toward the back of the building and took refuge in toilets, where they were also trapped.

As a result of the tragedy, authorities have ordered the closure of the bar for 30 days and have launched a thorough investigation into the causes of the event.

The Thai government has also announced financial support for the victims' families and for the wounded being treated in hospitals.

This is another severe tragedy caused by fires in Thailand. In 2022 a fire in a local south of Bangkok claimed the lives of 22 people, while on New Year's Eve 2009 66 people lost their lives in a fire at a nightclub in the capital.