A massive fire erupted at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district on Sunday night, killing at least 28 people and leaving 25 others in critical condition.
Firefighters arrived within minutes of midnight and managed to contain the blaze in about half an hour, but most victims were found inside a toilet where they had sought shelter.
Initial investigations point to an electrical short in an air‑conditioner as a possible trigger, while the rapid spread was attributed to flammable interior décor and a lack of working lighting.
A survivor, Usa Tadsree, broke a window to escape and described how the fire surged all at once and left her disoriented.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the site on Monday, prompting a promise of a thorough inquiry and a compensation of 29,300 baht to families of the deceased.
Officials say the bar will be closed for 30 days, and authorities are scrutinizing safety standards that remain poorly enforced, following past tragedies such as the 2009 nightclub blaze.
