The death toll from a devastating fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has risen to 32 after two more victims succumbed to their injuries, the Police Hospital said on Wednesday. Authorities are now investigating whether negligence, including possible safety violations at the venue, may have contributed to one of Thailand's deadliest entertainment venue fires in recent years.
The blaze broke out shortly before midnight on Sunday at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a single-storey live music pub in Bangkok's northern Chatuchak district. Witnesses said they heard what appeared to be an explosion before a powerful burst of fire spread rapidly through the venue. Thick smoke quickly filled the pub, trapping patrons inside and making it difficult for many to escape.
The Erawan Emergency Medical Centre said 30 people were still receiving treatment at hospitals across Bangkok, including 15 patients in intensive care. Another 44 people have been discharged after receiving medical attention.
Authorities believe the fire was likely triggered by an electrical short circuit involving a ceiling air-conditioning unit. However, police are examining whether negligence and inadequate safety arrangements worsened the disaster. Investigators are specifically looking into whether emergency exits were blocked or otherwise unusable during the fire.
The tragedy has prompted the Thai government to announce plans to tighten safety regulations for entertainment venues. Authorities are expected to carry out random inspections to ensure that fire exits remain clear, emergency routes are accessible and establishments meet basic safety standards. The pub had reportedly undergone an official inspection as recently as April.
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Located at a busy intersection near train stations and two shopping malls, the pub was part of a cluster of popular bars and entertainment venues that often attract large weekend crowds. Such establishments typically serve food and drinks while hosting live music and screening televised sporting events.
Fire safety experts said highly combustible materials used to decorate the stage and improve acoustics may have ignited almost instantly, generating intense heat, thick smoke and toxic fumes. They believe the rapid spread of the fire and the heavy smoke may have caused many victims to choke before they could reach safety.
Experts have previously warned about the use of flammable decorations, overcrowding and inadequate or obstructed emergency exits in Thai entertainment venues. Similar concerns were raised after a nightclub fire in Bangkok in 2009 killed at least 65 people, highlighting long-standing safety problems in the country's nightlife industry.
The latest disaster has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of fire safety rules and greater accountability among venue owners and officials responsible for inspections.
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