Bangkok pub fire kills at least 27 as patrons flee smoke-filled venue
BANGKOK, July 18. A fire ripped through the Na Ladprao pub in northern Bangkok around midnight Monday, killing at least 27 people and injuring several others as patrons scrambled to escape the smoke-filled venue, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at the scene. The Associated Press, citing rescuers, placed the blaze in the northern part of Thailand's capital. Firefighters brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes.
Key takeaways
- A fire at the Na Ladprao pub in northern Bangkok around midnight Monday killed at least 27 people and injured several others, according to Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
- Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 30 minutes.
- A musician at the pub reported seeing smoke from a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out, followed by an explosion and thick smoke.
- Many of those killed were found in restrooms at the back of the pub, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
- The death toll of at least 27 is nearly double the 14 killed in a 2022 music pub fire in eastern Thailand.
BANGKOK, July 18. A fire ripped through the Na Ladprao pub in northern Bangkok around midnight Monday, killing at least 27 people and injuring several others as patrons scrambled to escape the smoke-filled venue, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at the scene. The Associated Press, citing rescuers, placed the blaze in the northern part of Thailand's capital. Firefighters brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes.
How the fire began
A musician performing at the pub that night told Anutin he saw smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage shortly before the power went out. The prime minister relayed the account at the scene. Moments later, an explosion was heard, and thick smoke spread through the building, the Associated Press reported.
Video shared by first responders showed flames pouring from the front of the building and thick black smoke billowing into the night sky. People were seen scrambling to escape as the fire burned.
Where the dead were found
Anutin said many of those killed were located in restrooms at the back of the pub. He confirmed the death toll of at least 27 at the scene. Several injured patrons were transported to a hospital. Photos taken after firefighters extinguished the blaze showed heavy damage throughout the building's interior.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Thai authorities have not confirmed an origin. The musician's account, as relayed by the prime minister, pointed to a possible electrical source near the stage.
Deadly fires at Thai nightlife venues
Deadly nightlife fires have struck Thailand before. In 2022, a fire at a music pub in eastern Thailand killed 14 people, the Associated Press reported. The toll at the Na Ladprao pub, at least 27, is nearly double that figure.