Bangkok pub fire kills at least 27 people
A devastating fire at a pub in Bangkok, Thailand, has resulted in 27 deaths and dozens of injuries. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, which reportedly started near the stage and spread rapidly through the venue.
Why it matters
This incident highlights critical safety concerns regarding fire prevention and emergency exits in high-density entertainment venues.
An explosive fire at a popular pub in Thailand's capital Bangkok has killed 27 people, the country's prime minister and other officials said on Monday, in one of the deadliest such incidents in the tourism hub in recent years.
"We have recovered 27 bodies, others are being sent to hospital," said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the site of the fire that broke out at 11:57 pm local time on Sunday.
Based on survivor accounts, he said the pub in Bangkok's Chatuchak district 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.
Another 63 people injured in the incident have been hospitalized, said Suriyachai Rawiwan, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
"The number of deaths has stabilised at 27," he told Reuters.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in