Fire at Bangkok Pub Leaves 27 Dead, 63 Injured

A major fire broke out at a pub in the Chatuchak district, north of the Thai capital, Bangkok, at approximately 11:57 p.m. on July 12 (local time), leaving 27 people dead.

Authorities stated that 63 others were injured and transported to hospitals, with 22 of them 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 patrons attempted to escape.

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

A tourist from Laos told AFP, "I heard many people screaming loudly inside. The scene was chaotic."

The fire was extinguished 30 minutes after the initial report, but the death toll was high as many patrons crowded toward an area that lacked an emergency exit.

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

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, 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, "A musician who was performing at the pub at the time said they saw a power outage and smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage, followed by an explosion sound and then immediate, thick smoke."

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that the pub had the proper permits and was equipped with emergency exits, but noted the possibility that the rapid spread of the fire and the sudden influx of smoke made it difficult for patrons to escape.

He added that authorities are currently working to identify the victims, as many were found without identification or were in an unconscious state.

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 was equipped with four emergency exits.

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

Some foreign media outlets, including 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.