Sudden Fire in Bar in Northern Bangkok Leaves 27 Dead and 63 Injured

A major fire broke out late at night at a bar restaurant in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, Thailand, resulting in at least 27 deaths and dozens injured.

According to the Bangkok Post and AFP, the fire occurred around midnight on the 13th in Soi Lat Phrao 1, Chatuchak District.

The Thai National Police posted on social media around 2 am, saying the fire had been brought under control.

Anutin said that according to descriptions from the restaurant's musicians, thick smoke was coming from the circuit breaker near the stage, followed by a power outage and then an explosion. He stated that most of the victims ran to the back restroom, but there was no exit there.

Chadchart said the fire spread rapidly, rushing straight to the ceiling, and that thick smoke was likely the main cause of deaths. He also reported that 63 people were injured and sent to hospital, 22 of whom are critically injured.

The deceased include 9 men and 18 women. The injured were sent to seven hospitals.

Lao tourist Kuntila told AFP he "heard many people scream inside, and the scene was a mess."

He posted a video on Facebook showing customers escaping into the street as flames gushed from the entrance, with some people’s shirts on fire.

Kuntila said that around 10 pm that night, he was drinking alone at the bar and then noticed smoke coming out from near the stage.

“I've never experienced anything like this... Those scenes are still haunting my mind.”

Kuntila said he helped carry a woman out of the bar at the scene.

He wrote in his post: "I managed to rescue only one injured person. I did my best. I'm very sorry."

Suriyachai, head of Bangkok’s Department of Disaster Prevention, said that authorities arrived at the scene within five minutes of receiving the report, but at the time “the fire had already spread throughout the entire area, and it was very hard for us to get inside.”

Suriyachai told AFP: "When we began searching, we found tables and chairs blocking the way everywhere, and the site was extremely hot."

He said most of the victims’ bodies were discovered in a restroom at the back.