At least 27 people were killed and 63 others were injured after a massive fire ripped through a pub in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, late on Sunday night, officials said.
The blaze reportedly started near the stage at the popular Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub in Bangkok’s busy Chatuchak district, cutting off power and filling the venue with thick smoke, Bangkok Post reported.
The 63 injured have been admitted to 16 hospitals for treatment.
As per local media reports, most of the victims were found in a bathroom at the rear of the building, where they had reportedly taken shelter from the flames.
“Twenty-seven bodies were recovered,” Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday while speaking to reporters at the scene. “Others have been taken to hospitals, and we are monitoring their condition.”
Anutin said a musician performing at the pub told him that smoke was seen coming from a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out. Moments later, an explosion was heard and flames rapidly engulfed the venue, triggering panic among patrons.
Officials said the deceased included nine men and 18 women. Of the 63 injured, 22 remain in critical condition.
Preliminary investigations by Bangkok’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation indicated that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit in an air-conditioning unit.
However, authorities said the exact cause would be determined only after a detailed forensic investigation.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said that flammable ceiling decorations may have accelerated the spread of the fire.
He also noted that one of the emergency exits appeared to have been partially obstructed by furniture and stacks of beer crates, which may have hampered evacuation efforts, according to local media reports.
