Deadly Blaze Tears Through Popular Bangkok Nightspot

A devastating fire at a popular bar in Bangkok has claimed at least 27 lives, Thai authorities said, with several others injured and some still unaccounted for.

Firefighters responded shortly after midnight and found panicked patrons struggling to escape through the smoke and flames engulfing the venue’s entrance.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene, said preliminary accounts point to an electrical fault near a power switch before the blaze spread rapidly, triggering explosions and chaos inside the building. Many victims reportedly sought refuge in restrooms at the rear of the establishment, where most of the bodies were later recovered.

The affected venue, identified locally as Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, is well known in the area as a restaurant and entertainment spot.

Fire crews succeeded in bringing the blaze under control within about 30 minutes, but images from inside showed extensive destruction, with the interior left charred and the ceiling badly damaged.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire as search efforts continue for those still missing.

Witnesses, including a passing motorist who broke windows to rescue trapped patrons, described scenes of panic as people fled the rapidly spreading flames.