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Live'The fire spread very quickly': Bangkok blaze is deadliest such incident in Thailand in 20 years

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An explosive fire at a popular bar in Chatuchak district has killed 27 people, with another 22 injured in critical condition.

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Edited by Rhea Yasmine, Clay Lim

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Published: July 13, 2026

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\r\n","liveBlogId","2329","isLiveBlog",true,"isMultidayLiveblog",false,"multidayLiveBlogMapping",[],"uniqueName","live-bangkok-bar-fire","infiniteScroll",{"_45":46},"additionalStories",[],"advertisements",[49,57,61],{"_5":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56},"lb1","page","liveblog","slot","/5908/st/lb1/liveblog","id","dfp-ad-lb1",{"_5":58,"_51":52,"_53":59,"_55":60},"catfish","/5908/st/catfish/liveblog","dfp-ad-catfish",{"_5":62,"_51":52,"_53":63,"_55":64},"prestitial","/5908/st/prestitial/liveblog","dfp-ad-prestitial","metaData",{"_20":67,"_68":67,"_69":67,"_70":42,"_23":71,"_72":73,"_74":75,"_76":77,"_78":79,"_80":81},"Live: 'The fire spread very quickly': Bangkok blaze is deadliest such incident in Thailand in 20 years","ogTitle","twitterTitle","slug","An explosive fire at a popular bar in Chatuchak district has killed 27 people, with another 22 injured in critical condition. Read more at straitstimes.com.","ogDescription","An explosive fire at a popular bar in Chatuchak district has killed 27 people, with another 22 injured in critical condition.","jsonLd","{\"@context\":\"https:\\/\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"LiveBlogPosting\",\"@id\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/live-bangkok-bar-fire\",\"headline\":\"Live: Fire in Bangkok pub kills dozens: How it happened\",\"description\":\"An explosive fire at a popular pub in Bangkok\\u2019s Chatuchak district has killed 27 people, with another 22 in critical condition.\",\"coverageStartTime\":\"2026-07-13T07:00:00+08:00\",\"coverageEndTime\":\"2026-07-13T23:59:00+08:00\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/assets\\/ST-logo-default-aoeSLh4S.png\",\"width\":\"1228\",\"height\":\"96\"}},\"liveBlogUpdate\":[{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"No leniency if any laws have been broken, says PM Anutin\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T12:49:54+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T12:49:54+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who had visited the scene of the fire earlier, said the venue was licensed to operate as a restaurant, adding that police were looking at its inspection record.He assured the victims and their families they would \\u201creceive the best possible care\\u201d.Initial inquiries suggested there were \\u201cblind spots\\u201d without a visible fire escape route, Anutin told reporters at City Hall.He urged everyone to wait for the investigators\\u2019 report, but added: \\u201cThere will be no leniency if any laws have been broken.\\u201d \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ling Chang Hong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"About 300 customers in the bar when fire broke out\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T12:45:50+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T12:45:50+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the bar was licensed and was operated in a single-storey concrete building and musical performances were allowed inside, the Bangkok Post reported. It had passed inspection in April.According to Chadchart, the venue usually attracts 600 to 700 people each night but waiters said there were about 300 customers inside when the fire broke out. PHOTO: EPA \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ling Chang Hong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Bangkok to review fire safety rules\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T12:25:57+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T12:25:57+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt is preparing to review and strengthen regulations governing the use of flame-retardant decorative materials in buildings, reported Thai media outlet The Nation.A major focus of the investigation into this morning\\u2019s fire will be the decorative materials used on the ceiling and other equipment inside the building.The Nation reported that interior decorative materials acted as fuel during the fire and generated a large volume of smoke.The authorities will thus consider requiring a broader range of establishments, including restaurants offering live music, to use materials that resist flame spread and do not generate smoke. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Where is Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T12:00:07+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T12:05:02+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar, located in Ladprao in the northern part of Bangkok, is a short walk from Phahon Yothin MRT station and a 15-minute drive from the popular Chatuchak Weekend Market.The live music venue has a stage, two bars and a kitchen, with a total capacity of more than 300 people, as well as four fire exits, according to the bar\\u2019s Facebook page. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Short circuit in air-con unit suspected to be cause of fire\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T10:28:00+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T12:05:02+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"An electrical short circuit in an air conditioning unit in the ceiling of the bar is suspected to have caused the fire, reported local media outlet Daily News.The fire originated inside the building and completely destroyed it, with an estimated damage area of \\u200b\\u200b164 sq m, it said.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"In pictures: Aftermath of pre-dawn fire\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T11:39:40+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T12:04:40+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"After the fire was put out, rows of stools and bottles of beer on tables at the bar were covered with white dust.The smell of burned plastic lingered in the air for several hours after the fire started shortly after midnight, while most of the windows of the bar were blown out, reported AFP. PHOTOS: FIRE AND RESCUE THAILAND\\/FACEBOOK, AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"\\u2018Smoke everywhere\\u2019 \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T08:25:51+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T11:12:49+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Firefighter Chakrit Khongkom, 45, said he arrived on the first fire truck to see the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar alight and many patrons stranded inside, several of them trying to escape from the back of the venue. The few people coming through the front of the venue were burnt.\\u201cThe fire was not that aggressive, but the smoke had engulfed 100 per cent of the venue. The smoke was everywhere,\\u201d he said. \\u201cMost of the survivors were choking on smoke.\\u201dBody-camera footage from an emergency worker seen by Reuters shows firefighters in oxygen masks moving through the darkened remains of the bar with torches as they searched for survivors.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"There were no fire escapes, says Thai PM Anutin\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T08:11:44+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T11:12:29+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Prime Minister Anutin Charnviraku was on the scene.He said that based on survivor accounts, the bar rapidly filled with smoke after a fire broke out, forcing many to run to the back of the venue near the bathrooms, but there were no fire escapes.\\u201cMost of the victims ran to the back, to toilets with no exit. It could be because of panic because there was fire and smoke in the restaurant,\\u201d Anutin told reporters, adding that smoke covered the area quickly.\\u201cTwenty-seven bodies were moved out, lifeless bodies. Some were sent to hospitals, we are checking their conditions,\\u201d Anutin said in televised remarks from the scene of the blaze.He said musicians at the bar and restaurant venue on the outskirts of the capital described \\u201csmoke from a circuit breaker near the stage followed by the power going out and an explosion\\u201d. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Laotian tourist recounts hearing loud screaming, seeing smoke rising near stage\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T08:17:26+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T11:12:12+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Footage on Facebook showed screaming patrons fleeing the bar as flames and smoke envelope the front door before an explosion causes the flames to shoot out the exit. One patron is on fire while another emerges with clothes burnt.\\u201cI heard loud screaming from a lot of people inside \\u2013 chaos happened,\\u201d Laotian tourist Kan Kutirat told AFP.Kan said he was drinking alone at the bar at around 10pm on Sunday when he noticed smoke rising near the stage.\\u201cI never experienced anything like this before,\\u201d he said. \\u201cThe images are still stuck in my mind.\\u201dHe said he helped carry a woman out of the bar.In a post on Facebook, he said: \\u201cI could only get one person out. I tried my best. I\\u2019m sorry.\\\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Inquiry to be conducted into bar's legal compliance, says Bangkok governor\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T09:19:14+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T11:11:53+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said there would be an inquiry into the bar's compliance with legal requirements, including its operating permits.City officials will examine the venue\\u2019s operating documents and safety standards, particularly the number and condition of its fire exits, the visibility of emergency-exit signs and whether evacuation routes were obstructed, reported Thai media outlet The Nation.The bar, on its Facebook page, bills itself as \\u201cthe only brewery in Ladprao\\u201d, which is a busy commercial and residential neighbourhood in the northern part of the Thai capital.The live music venue has a stage, two bars and a kitchen, with a total capacity of more than 300 people, as well as four fire exits, according to a post on its Facebook page promoting a live show this month.The Nation said an initial inspection found two escape routes, one of which passed through the kitchen. Investigators will determine whether the layout and use of the routes complied with safety requirements.PHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"\\u2018Smoke, lights out, then explosion\\u2019\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T09:40:45+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T11:10:48+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said musicians at the bar described \\u201csmoke from a circuit breaker near the stage followed by the power going out and an explosion\\u201d.A band member at the venue told local media that smoke suddenly filled the room after the lights briefly went out. A massive explosion and fire then followed.\\u201cAfter the explosion, I didn\\u2019t see anybody trying to run. Most of them were on the floor asking for help,\\u201d he told reporters, his head still bandaged, without giving his name.\\u201cI ran towards the door from the stage, about 5m. It was dark and there was smoke, no oxygen.\\u201dTwo musicians were among at least 27 victims of the fire.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Passers-by recount smashing windows, helping victims\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T10:04:31+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T11:10:19+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Motorbike taxi driver Surin Jaiharn, 45, said he saw the fire burst into the street from the bar door and helped about five people fleeing with burnt and blistering skin.\\u201cI feel depressed. I saw many deaths and I do not know the fate of the people I helped,\\u201d Surin told AFP.He said he used clothing to put out the flames on their bodies while another driver carried a female victim away from the blaze.Another man who drove past the bar at around 11.30pm on Sunday night said he stopped his vehicle and helped break the windows to rescue two people.He said he saw many more people trapped inside but could not help them all, reported Thai media outlet Daily News. PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"In pictures\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T08:36:58+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T11:01:07+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"PHOTOS: REUTERS, EPA\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"$1,150 compensation for each fatality\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T11:00:09+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T11:00:09+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has announced a consolation payment of 29,700 baht (S$1,150) per fatality, reported Thai media outlet Thairath.It will also be compensating those injured, with the rates as follows: \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Past significant fatal fires in Thailand\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T10:39:42+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T10:39:42+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"This morning's fire has raised concerns over Thailand\\u2019s lax approach to health and safety regulations \\u2013 particularly in its bars and nightclubs.Here are some other fires that have taken place in Thailand in recent years: Dec 29, 2024: Three people \\u2013 from the United States, Brazil and Ukraine \\u2013 were killed in a fire at a hotel near Bangkok\\u2019s popular Khao San backpacker district.Oct 1, 2024: At least 23 people died when a school bus carrying more than 40 students and teachers on a field trip caught fire in the outskirts of the capital Bangkok.July 30, 2023: Twelve people were killed and more than 100 injured when firecrackers exploded in a warehouse in the southern province of Narathiwat that borders Malaysia.July 5, 2021: A firefighter was killed and 29 people were wounded and thousands more evacuated after an explosion at a factory in Samut Prakan province.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"\\u2018Tables, chairs blocking the way\\u2019\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T09:31:11+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T09:38:29+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Suriyachai Rawiwan, head of Bangkok\\u2019s disaster prevention department, said the authorities had arrived five minutes after the blaze was reported, but by that time \\u201cthe fire had already spread through the whole area, making it quite difficult for us to get in\\u201d.\\u201cWhen we went in to search, we found tables and seating blocking the way everywhere and the heat was intense,\\u201d Suriyachai told AFP.Most of the victims\\u2019 bodies were found in a rear restroom, the official said.Thai national police said in a social media post at around 2am on Monday that the fire had been \\u201cbrought under control\\u201d.PHOTO: EPA \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Thailand's troubling history of nightclub fires\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T08:47:13+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T09:33:57+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"This morning\\u2019s tragedy has once again highlighted longstanding concerns about fire safety in entertainment venues across Thailand, said Thai media outlet The Bangkok Post.AFP noted that 25 people died after a fire ripped through the Mountain B nightclub in Thailand\\u2019s eastern Chonburi province in 2022. That nightspot was built illegally, without a licence, and witnesses had described seeing a spark near the stage followed by an explosion and flames, a scene not unlike the latest blaze in Bangkok, reported The New York Times.In 2009, a huge fire tore through a New Year\\u2019s Eve party at Bangkok\\u2019s Santika club, killing 67 people and injuring more than 200.Each disaster has reignited debates over building codes, emergency exits and enforcement of safety regulations.As investigators work to uncover what triggered the latest blaze, many hope this tragedy leads to stronger oversight to prevent another catastrophic loss of life, said the Bangkok Post.READ MORE: Singaporean survivor of 2009 Bangkok blaze recounts her journey to recovery\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Contact centre to be set up for victims, relatives\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T09:05:16+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T09:05:16+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said a contact centre would be established for the victims and their relatives.He instructed the Chatuchak District Office to set up the coordination centre, adding that it is currently not possible to confirm the names of the deceased as identification is required from doctors and relevant agencies, reported Thai media outlet Daily News.He therefore requested that relatives of the victims use the coordination centre\\u2019s channels to obtain official information. PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Bar fire in Bangkok\\u2019s Chatuchak kills at least 27 people\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-13T08:05:04+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-13T08:21:24+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"A fire at a popular bar and restaurant in Thailand\\u2019s capital Bangkok late on Sunday has killed 27 people, in one of the deadliest such incidents in the tourism hub in recent years.At least nine men and 18 women were among the dead, reported Thai news outlet The Bangkok Post.Another 63 people injured in the incident have been hospitalised. The city\\u2019s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, told reporters that 22 of the 63 people injured are currently in critical condition.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ryasmine\"}}]}","keywords","Thailand, Bangkok, fire, Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, Chatuchak, pub fire, bar fire, latest, live updates","robots","index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1","image","https://static1.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fs-public/articles/2026/07/13/bangkokfire_0.jpg?VersionId=aGBtxsrNIEfXk4czfRHmqWeQtyrnGit_","gaData",{"_84":85,"_86":21,"_87":21,"_20":88,"_89":90,"_91":92,"_93":94},"level2","23","chapter1","chapter2","Live:_‘Smoke,_lights_out,_explosion’:_Chaotic_scenes_at_Bangkok_pub's_deadly_fire","title_ga","Live: ‘Smoke, lights out, explosion’: Chaotic scenes at Bangkok pub's deadly fire","pagination","1","contenttype","live blog","additionalVariants","dependentPaths",[],"actionData","errors"]