27 dead, 25 critical in Bangkok bar fire

A huge fire tore through a bar in Bangkok late on Sunday, killing at least 27 people and leaving 25 critically injured, reports BBC.

The blaze started near the stage of the bar in the popular Chatuchak district, then spread rapidly, cutting power and engulfing the room with smoke, eyewitnesses say.

Footage posted online show panicked customers screaming as they fled, some with their clothes on fire through the flame-enveloped front door of Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao.

Firefighters, who arrived at the scene just after midnight, quickly extinguished the fire. They found the bodies of most of the victims in a bathroom, where they had apparently sought shelter.

Preliminary investigations by Bangkok’s disaster mitigation department suggest the fire could have been caused by an electrical short circuit in an air conditioner, though no official cause has been given.

Authorities have promised a thorough investigation. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Thailand. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene early on Monday, said a musician who was performing when the fire broke out told him “there was blasting and everybody tried to flee from the smoke and flames”.

However, despite their efforts, nine men and 18 women were killed. Some 73 people were injured, including 25 who are in critical condition, authorities said.

Initial findings suggest the majority of the victims died from smoke inhalation, said Suriyachai Raviwan, the director of Bangkok’s disaster mitigation department.

One motorcyclist, Surin Jaiharn, told AFP that he helped about five people flee the burning bar using clothing to extinguish flames on their bodies.

As of Monday morning, the bar has been cordoned off, with shattered windows and furniture piled up outside its entrance. Confronting pictures have emerged of many body bags lined up outside the bar.