Bangkok Bar Inferno Leaves 28 Dead, Fires Safety Debate Hour
A sudden blaze erupted inside the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar on Sunday, swallowing a packed music venue and incinerating 28 people while leaving dozens injured. According to Thai media, the fire began near guitarist Kwang’s keyboard, where smoke first appeared before spreading rapidly across the building.
Band manager Ice Athipat Wijarn described runners scrambling through the burning front doors, body slammed against heat and smoke. “Everybody was running, squeezing into each other,” he told Thai television. He later reported that his girlfriend and a friend were left burned, a memory that haunts him.
All five members of the indie group Thotsakan suffered fatal consequences: keyboardist Kwang, singer Breeze, drummer Bew, and lead vocalist Tik Chaichana—who escaped briefly to a bathroom—killed or wounded. A fifth member, Din, was missing but found later and remains in uncertain condition.
Residents of Chatuchak district observed the inferno from outside, filming frantic patrons trapped inside. “There was a boom – a very fast boom … There was no way to get out at all,” stated 41‑year‑old Usa Tadsree, whose friends perished in the blaze.
Firefighters contained the flames within half an hour, but the day’s tragedy forged a national conversation about safety protocols in nightlife venues. Bangkok governor Chatchart Sittipunt cited the venue’s flammable ceiling décor and obstructed emergency exits as contributory factors. He urged authorities to investigate causes and enforce stricter safety standards.
Experts recommend routine fire drills and wider exit doors for similar establishments. “The doors should be designed with more width in mind,” a local driver advised. After the incident, residents feared that similar tragedies might recur, as many pubs in the area share precarious layouts.
