Intense fire in Bangkok bar kills 27, hurts dozens

A sudden blaze ignited a bar in Bangkok, Thailand, late Sunday night, killing 27 people and injuring 63, according to the Thai Enquirer. Authorities had still not yet identified many victims’ bodies as of Monday, according to police. Videos circulating on social media showed a long stream of fire shooting out from a door of the building as patrons fled.

A large number of the deceased were found in and near the bar’s bathrooms, indicating they tried to seek an exit or water amid mass panic, police said. Heat from the flames destroyed signage and emergency lights, and the bar’s electrical power went out during the fire, adding to victims’ confusion, police said. A hallway leading to the kitchen was also obstructed by lockers and shelves, allowing only one person to walk through at a time. Police were also investigating allegations that at least one exit door was locked.

What caused the fire? Police hadn’t officially determined the cause as of Monday, but said they were focusing investigations on the area above the bar’s stage. Modifications to the sound system and flammable sound-deadening panels could have contributed, they said. The Thai Enquirer also reported that a short in the air-conditioning system could be at fault.

The venue’s owner was hospitalized with serious injuries, but police would seek information from him on the causes of the disaster as soon as possible, they said.

Dig deeper: Read Stephen Kloosterman’s report on a similar deadly fire at a Swiss bar early this year.