Bangkok Pub Fire Kills 30 as Flammable Decor Sparks Disaster

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A fire has erupted at a pub in northern Bangkok, killing at least 30 people and injuring 75, with 24 of them critically ill. The fire occurred at 11.57pm on Sunday, possibly sparked by an electrical short circuit in a ceiling air conditioner. Authorities believe the highly combustible materials used to decorate the stage and improve acoustics contributed to the disaster. The Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub had undergone a safety inspection in April. Its owner is among those being treated in hospital.

Highly combustible materials used to decorate the stage and likely for better acoustics instantly ignited to produce extreme heat, smoke and deadly toxins, choking many of those trapped inside, according to two experts who have studied the blaze. Thai police are investigating if emergency exits were obstructed and prevented victims from escaping the burning pub. The fire was fueled by a massive fuel load, including artificial trees and flowers that had been installed across the ceiling.

Thai police are investigating if emergency exits were obstructed and prevented victims from escaping the burning pub. The pub, located at a busy intersection next to train stations and two shopping malls, is one of a cluster of similar bars often crowded on weekend nights, serving food, drinks as well as offering live music and televised sports. Video footage of the venue before the fire shows a green grass-like material covering the ceiling above the stage, as well as what appears to be black acoustic foam panels over areas packed with seating for patrons.

According to the fire investigators, a door that was once an exit was bolted, blocking potential escape routes. Body-camera footage from an emergency worker shows several victims lying prone on the floor near the pub’s toilets. Chakrit Khongkom, a firefighter who arrived at the scene, said that most of the survivors were choking on smoke when he tried to put out the flames.

The use of flammable materials and decorative items, crowded conditions and unusable emergency exits in Thai establishments have been previously flagged, including after a 2022 nightclub fire in Chonburi that killed 13 people and a 2009 blaze at another Bangkok nightclub.

The fire has shed light on the lax safety regulations in Thailand's hospitality industry. The pub's operations resembled an entertainment establishment, which has different regulatory requirements. However, the venue was registered as a restaurant, which led to incomplete fire protection systems, including a lack of smoke ventilation systems.

The fire is a grim reminder of the importance of fire safety regulations and the consequences of lax enforcement. The use of highly combustible materials in decorations and the obstruction of emergency exits were major contributing factors to the disaster. The Thai government must take concrete steps to strengthen fire safety regulations and ensure that all establishments adhere to them.