Deadliest Bangkok Bar Fire in 17 Years Raises Questions Over Locked Emergency Exits

(Central News Bangkok, December 14 – compiled international reports) A fire at a beer restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand, has left 30 dead and over 70 injured. Survivors have reported that some doors were locked during the incident, and emergency exit signs were missing, prompting authorities to investigate potential negligence.

According to reports from the Associated Press and BBC News, the fire broke out late on the 12th and is the deadliest bar fire in the area in 17 years. Firefighters took about 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

Police said that flammable materials used as decorations may have allowed the fire, which started near the stage, to spread rapidly.

The bar claimed a capacity of up to 600 customers, but the actual number of people present on the night of the incident remains unknown.

The fire has resulted in at least 30 deaths and over 70 injuries, with 24 in critical condition. First responders found most of the victims near the toilets at the back of the bar, suggesting they were trapped while trying to escape.

The cause of the fire and whether the bar complied with safety regulations are still under investigation. Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in an air conditioning unit, which then triggered a complete power outage.

Busakorn Saensuk, a fire safety expert from the Thailand Engineering Institute, said after inspecting the site that the door near the toilets was locked, and the two entrance doors were partially blocked by furniture and other items.

Busakorn told BBC Thai that customers instinctively ran toward the back of the venue—toward the toilets—when the fire broke out.

'But when they reached the back, they couldn't get out.'

'If the emergency exit lights had been on, people could have seen the door locks and might have had a chance to open them.'

Busakorn also noted that the stage was decorated with large amounts of highly flammable plastic flowers, and the ceiling was covered with combustible foam.

Survivors described how the stage was engulfed in flames within seconds. Two members of the Thai indie band Thotsakan, who were performing at the time, also died in the fire.

Following the incident, customers who had visited the bar and other mourners have visited the site to lay flowers. In addition to bouquets, many handwritten cards in Thai, Korean, and other languages have been left to express condolences for the victims. (Translated by: Tsai Chia-min) 1150714