27 Dead, 63 Injured in Bangkok Pub Fire: "It Was Chaos"

A massive fire broke out late at night at a pub in the Thai capital of Bangkok, leaving 27 people dead and more than 60 injured.

According to Reuters, AP, and other news agencies on the 13th (local time), the fire started at a pub in the Chatuchak district of northern Bangkok at 11:57 p.m. the previous day.

Bangkok authorities stated that 27 people, including customers, were killed, and 63 others were injured and transported to hospitals.

Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, explained that 22 of the injured are in critical condition.

Videos circulating online show massive flames erupting from the main entrance of the pub, with thick black smoke billowing out as some customers attempted to escape.

One firefighter told Reuters, "(When we arrived) many customers were trapped inside the pub, and some tried to escape toward the back of the performance area," adding, "The flames were not that intense, but smoke had engulfed the entire establishment."

A tourist from Laos told AFP, "I heard many people screaming loudly inside (the pub)," adding, "It was chaos."

The fire was extinguished 30 minutes after the initial report, but the death toll was high as many customers crowded toward an area without an emergency exit.

According to statements from survivors, as the pub filled with smoke after the fire started, many customers evacuated toward the back of the building where the restrooms were located, but it is reported that there was no emergency exit there.

Bodycam footage from local emergency responders also captured victims lying face down on the floor near the pub's restrooms.

A band musician with a bandage on his head told local media, "I didn't see anyone trying to run away after the explosion; most were lying on the floor asking for help," adding, "It was dark, and the smoke was so thick there was no oxygen."

Anutin Charnvirakul, the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, who visited the scene after the fire, explained to reporters, "Several victims were found (near) the restrooms at the back of the pub."

He added, "The musician who was performing at the pub at the time said, 'There was a power outage, and I saw smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage. Then I heard an explosion, and it was immediately filled with thick smoke.'"


Governor Chadchart said that while the pub had the proper permits and emergency exits, the fire spread rapidly and the sudden influx of smoke likely made it difficult for customers to evacuate.

He added that authorities are currently working to identify the victims, as many were not carrying identification or were unconscious.

Due to the difficulty in identifying the victims, it has not yet been confirmed whether any South Korean nationals were among the casualties.

According to the pub's live performance promotional materials, the venue had a capacity of over 300 people and four emergency exits.

Bangkok authorities are focusing their investigation on the pub's evacuation routes, considering the possibility that emergency exits may have been blocked by obstacles at the time of the fire.

EFE and AFP reported that the evacuation routes appeared to be blocked by tables and various decorations.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.