At least 27 people lost their lives and more than 60 were injured when a fire swept through a pub in northern Bangkok in the early hours of Monday, according to Thai officials. The blaze broke out at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a popular venue in the Chatuchak district, around midnight local time, rescue workers reported. Footage shared by first responders showed flames bursting through the front entrance as patrons attempted to flee, black smoke billowing into the night sky.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene, said that a musician performing at the pub described seeing smoke rising from a circuit breaker near the stage moments before a power cut and an explosion, after which dense smoke rapidly filled the room. Many of the dead were found crowded in the restrooms at the back of the building, he added, suggesting that panicked patrons may have sought refuge there or attempted to find a way out. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within approximately 30 minutes, but the interior was left charred and heavily damaged.

Thailand has a record of deadly fires at nightlife venues. In 2022, 14 people died at a music pub in the country’s east, and the 2009 Santika nightclub fire in Bangkok, ignited by indoor fireworks during a New Year’s Eve party, killed 66 and injured more than 200. The latest disaster has prompted authorities to launch an investigation into the cause and whether safety measures were adequate.

The death toll is provisional, with authorities saying identifications are still underway and some of the injured are in serious condition. No further details about the victims or what sparked the fire have been confirmed, and officials said the investigation remains active.