BANGKOK PUB FIRE KILLS AT LEAST 27, THAI OFFICIALS SAY

A fire at a pub in Bangkok killed at least 27 people late Sunday, according to Thai officials cited by Reuters and the Associated Press, after flames and smoke swept through the venue while patrons were inside. Reuters reported that the fire broke out at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub in Bangkok's Chatuchak district at about 11:57 p.m. local time. AP reported that the fire began around midnight and was brought under control within about 30 minutes.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the scene, said at least 27 people had been killed. Reuters reported that 63 people were hospitalized with injuries. AP reported that several injured people were taken to hospital and that the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Mission Offline could not independently verify the casualty figures.

Witness accounts reported by AP and Reuters suggest the fire may have started near the stage area, though authorities have not made a final determination. A performer told AP that smoke appeared to come from a circuit breaker near the stage, followed by a power outage, an explosion and a rapid spread of smoke through the building. Reuters also reported that the fire reportedly started near the stage.

The speed of the fire appears to have left some patrons with little time to escape. AP reported that many victims were found in rear restrooms. Reuters reported that many patrons fled toward the back of the building and became trapped, and that the venue lacked fire escapes. Those details will likely be central to the official investigation into how the death toll became so high.

Images and video from the scene, as described by AP and Reuters, showed heavy flames, thick smoke and a charred building exterior after the blaze was extinguished. Reuters reported that emergency responders found a devastated scene, with victims' bodies brought out for identification and removal.

The fire is one of the deadliest nightlife disasters in Thailand in recent years. AP noted that Thailand has seen previous fatal entertainment-venue fires, including a 2022 music pub fire that killed 14 people and the 2009 Santika nightclub fire in Bangkok that killed 66 people during a New Year's celebration.

The investigation is expected to focus on the source of the fire, electrical systems, evacuation routes, fire exits, crowd movement and whether the pub met safety requirements. Reuters reported that authorities were investigating the source of the blaze, while AP said the cause remained under investigation.

For families, the immediate priority is identification of the victims and medical updates for those injured. For Bangkok authorities, the fire is likely to raise broader questions about nightlife safety enforcement, emergency exits and whether crowded venues are prepared for fast-moving fires that can fill indoor spaces with smoke before patrons can reach the front entrance.

Fact-check date: July 12, 2026
Article type: News
Sources: Reuters; Associated Press; Al Jazeera; CNN; NPR