At least 27 dead after fire breaks out at Bangkok pub

A huge fire engulfed a pub in Bangkok early on Monday morning, killing at least 27 people before firefighters brought the blaze under control, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told local media.

Footage shared online by first responders shows a huge blaze raging at the pub in the northern part of the Thai capital. Local media identified ⁠the venue as Rong Beer ⁠Na Lat Phrao in the Chatuchak district, described by Sky News as ‌a popular ‌local venue.

People are seen trying to flee the building as thick black smoke billows into the sky. Rescuers said the fire was reported at around midnight.

Anutin said a musician who was performing at the pub told him that he saw smoke coming out of a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out, then an explosion was heard and thick smoke quickly filled the place.

“Most of the victims ran to the back, to toilets with no exit. It could be because of panic because there was fire and smoke in the restaurant,” Anutin told reporters.

“Smoke covered the area quickly,” he added, citing preliminary reports from survivors.