A fire that tore through a crowded pub in northern Bangkok shortly before midnight on Sunday killed at least 27 people and injured 63 others, according to Thai authorities. The blaze engulfed the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao venue in the Chatuchak district, a busy area near shopping malls and the weekend market, while a band was performing. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene, confirmed the death toll and said several of the injured had been taken to hospital.

Of the 63 injured, 22 were in critical condition, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters. Rescue workers recovered 27 bodies, including nine men and 18 women, and authorities said many of the victims were found in or near the toilets at the rear of the building. A Laotian national was among the ten victims identified so far, police sources told Russian state media, while the Russian embassy said no Russian citizens were among those identified. Medical officials said most deaths were likely caused by smoke inhalation, though forensic examinations were pending.

Survivors and a musician performing at the venue described smoke emerging from a circuit breaker near the stage, followed by a power cut and an explosion, after which thick smoke rapidly filled the room. The prime minister said many patrons fled towards the back, where they became trapped in toilets with no exit. Governor Chadchart stated that one emergency exit was blocked by beer crates and another by a table, hampering evacuation. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within about 30 minutes, but by then the interior was gutted and the ceiling had partially collapsed.

An initial assessment by Bangkok’s disaster prevention department pointed to an electrical short circuit in a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit as the likely cause, though the prime minister stressed that the official cause remained under investigation. Police said they were examining whether negligence contributed to the deaths, focusing on the accessibility of fire exits and the use of flammable soundproofing materials. The venue, which had a capacity of more than 300 people and four fire exits according to its social media, was licensed as a restaurant, and authorities pledged to review its inspection record.

The tragedy is the deadliest fire in Thailand since the 2009 Santika club blaze that killed 67 people during New Year celebrations. In 2022, a fire at the Mountain B nightclub in Chonburi province left 25 dead. Officials said the building would remain closed for 30 days and that families of the deceased would receive compensation. Forensic teams were still working at the scene on Monday morning, and the investigation into the exact cause and any safety violations was ongoing.