Bangkok Nightclub Fire Death Toll Rises to 30 Amid Probe into Blocked Exits and Flammable Materials

BANGKOK: Authorities reported on Monday that most of the victims killed in the devastating fire at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao music bar were discovered trapped inside windowless bathrooms, likely seeking shelter from the rapidly spreading flames. The blaze, which erupted late Sunday in the northern part of the Thai capital, claimed at least 30 lives and left 25 people in critical condition, according to city officials. A total of 73 individuals were injured, with the Bangkok city government confirming 28 fatalities, one more than the initial count from the Erawan emergency services center.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that the majority of deaths were due to smoke inhalation. By early Monday morning, the site was cordoned off as forensic teams worked to uncover the cause of the fire. The bar’s street‑facing windows had been blown out, littering the sidewalk with charred furniture, including television sets, speakers, and an electric guitar. Inspectors observed empty beer bottles still perched on scorched tables through the shattered glass.

The dead were trapped in bathrooms

National Police Chief Kittharath Punpetch explained that most of the deceased were found in windowless restrooms near a rear exit. The exit appeared unused, possibly blocked by a candy‑selling table or obscured by darkness. Another exit close to the kitchen may have been constricted by shelving and lockers, and there were indications that at least some doors were locked.

Investigators are focusing on the ceiling above the performance stage, where potentially flammable decorative materials were identified. Police will examine the interior’s use of combustible elements and the installation of electrical wiring throughout the ceiling. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul recounted that a performing musician reported seeing smoke emanating from a circuit breaker near the stage before a power outage and a subsequent explosion, after which thick smoke engulfed the venue.

Video footage shared on social media captured patrons fleeing as flames erupted from the single‑story building, sending black smoke into the sky.

Buddhist monks prayed for the dead

Several Buddhist monks visited the scene on Monday to offer prayers for the victims, while nurses distributed face masks to protect onlookers from lingering smoke and fumes. A registration desk was set up to collect information from relatives seeking their loved ones.

Singer Sukanya Wongwongwai, who was performing nearby, rushed to the bar after hearing about the fire. She disclosed that one of her bandmates died, three were hospitalized, and another remained missing, though the band later announced that the missing member had been found in a hospital.

“From what I heard from people who were inside when the fire started, everything went dark. The power was out, and there was smoke everywhere, so they couldn’t locate other people,” she said.

In a Facebook post, the bar expressed apologies and condolences, stating that it is cooperating with investigators. The owner of the establishment, who sustained serious injuries, is currently in an intensive care unit.

Mourning family members identify the dead at a morgue

Family members gathered at Bangkok’s Institute of Forensic Medicine to identify the victims. Among them was Keo Oudone Poungpany, 24, who came to claim the body of his younger brother, a migrant worker from Laos employed at the bar. Poungpany recounted that he was using an outside restroom when the fire began, and upon returning, he witnessed dozens of people fleeing the flames amidst loud noises. Unable to re‑enter due to the intense heat, he called out for his brother but could not get back inside.

“For now, I want to bring my younger brother’s body back home. I want to bring him home to my parents. My parents are waiting for their kids to come back together, but now one is gone,” Poungpany said.

Historical context: A similar tragedy occurred in 2022 when a music bar fire in eastern Thailand claimed 14 lives. Over a decade earlier, on New Year’s Eve 2009, a fireworks‑induced blaze at the Santika nightclub in the capital killed 67 people and injured more than 200.

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