At least 30 people have died in a fire at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao pub in Bangkok, marking the city's deadliest blaze in 17 years. Police have established negligence as the primary theory guiding their investigation, according to national police chief Kitrat Phanphet.
Death Toll and Victims
The local district office confirmed on Tuesday that three more people had died, bringing the total to 30. Authorities have identified 27 victims, with three yet to be identified. Most are believed to be Thai nationals. Of the injured, 24 are in critical condition, 15 have moderate injuries, and 36 sustained minor injuries and have returned home.
Cause of Fire and Negligence Allegations
An initial assessment by disaster officials found that an electrical short circuit in an air conditioner located in the ceiling caused the fire. National police chief Kitrat Phanphet told reporters: “At this time, police have established negligence as the primary theory guiding their investigation.” The pub owner has offered “deepest apologies” and pledged full cooperation with a transparent investigation.
Blocked Exits and Safety Concerns
Most victims were found trapped in windowless bathrooms near one of the rear exits, which was not used. Kitrat said people may have been blocked from reaching it by a table set up to sell candy, or because it was too dark to find the way out. Access to another exit near the kitchen might have been narrowed by shelving units and lockers. There were signs that at least some exit doors might have been locked. In a video shared by the prime minister's office, an official told Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul that a door once used as an exit was bolted because the proprietor feared customers would leave without paying. The door had a sign saying “staff only” and could open outside, but customers would not have been aware. Anutin responded: “If they had run this way, it would have been fine.”
Investigations into Flammable Materials
Investigators are also assessing the ceiling above a performance stage. Police will examine whether flammable materials were used in decorative elements and how electrical wiring was installed across the ceiling.
Survivor Accounts and Hospital Response
Video posted on social media showed people fleeing as flames shot out of the single-storey building and black smoke billowed into the sky. Those who escaped through the front doors ran through flames, sustaining life-altering injuries. The boyfriend of a 31-year-old woman who ran out while on fire told local outlet Khaosod that bystanders helped extinguish the flames. When reunited, she asked: “I can’t take it any more. I’m in so much pain. Am I still beautiful?”
The injured have been taken to 17 different hospitals across Bangkok for specialized care and ICU treatment for burn injuries and smoke inhalation. At Rajavithi hospital, a spokesperson said most of the 11 patients had sustained burn injuries, with four men and two women in critical condition.
Personal Tragedy
Kaewudon Pongpanee, a 24-year-old pub employee from Laos, survived because he was using an outside bathroom when the fire began. He saw people running from the flames and shouted for his brother but “the heat was unbearable, I couldn’t get back in.” His younger brother Pongpaset Pongpanee, also a worker at the pub, died. Kaewudon came to the police hospital morgue to identify his brother's body: “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.”
Mourning and Calls for Safety Reform
Outside the cordoned-off pub on Tuesday, the acrid smell of smoke was replaced by the scent of white chrysanthemums and marigold garlands, with notes to the deceased. Spiritual offerings of cake, rice, and soda were placed at the site. Strangers like Ratchada Tangprasert, who lives nearby, came to pay respects: “I don’t know anyone but I feel so sad.” She hoped the tragedy would be a lesson for the Thai government and the country about improving safety.
