Bangkok pub fire fatalities rose to 32 on Wednesday after two injured victims died in hospital, according to Thailand’s Police Hospital. Authorities are investigating whether negligence contributed to the deadly blaze.
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The fire ripped through the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao live music pub in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district shortly before midnight on Sunday. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion before flames and thick smoke quickly engulfed the single-storey venue.
The Erawan Emergency Medical Centre said 30 people remain in hospital. Fifteen of them are receiving treatment in intensive care units. Meanwhile, doctors have discharged 44 survivors.
Police investigate possible safety violations
Authorities believe an electrical short circuit in a ceiling air conditioner most likely triggered the fire.
Police are now examining whether negligence played a role. Investigators are also checking whether emergency exits were blocked during the incident.
In response, the government has pledged stricter safety enforcement. Officials plan to carry out random inspections of entertainment venues to ensure emergency exits remain accessible and buildings meet fire safety standards. The pub last passed an inspection in April.
Fire highlights long-standing safety concerns
The venue sits near major train stations and shopping malls. It is part of a busy entertainment district that attracts large weekend crowds for live music, food and sporting events.
Fire safety experts believe combustible acoustic materials around the stage ignited rapidly. The blaze then produced intense heat, thick smoke and toxic fumes that trapped many patrons inside.
Experts have repeatedly warned about the use of flammable decorations, overcrowding and blocked emergency exits in entertainment venues across Thailand. Similar concerns emerged after a 2009 Bangkok nightclub fire that killed at least 65 people.
