A fire at the Na Ladprao pub in northern Bangkok late Sunday killed 30 people and left more than 70 others injured, officials said.
Footage shared online by first responders shows a huge blaze raging and plumes coming out of the front door of the pub, with people trying to flee as thick black smoke billowed; rescuers said the fire was reported around midnight. Firefighters took about half an hour to bring the blaze under control, and photos of the aftermath show charred tables and chairs and the damaged interior of the pub.
Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters at the scene that the cause of the fire is under investigation and that a musician performing at the pub saw smoke coming out of a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out and an explosion was heard. Anutin said many of the victims were found in the restrooms at the back of the pub.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said more than 70 people were injured, with 24 of them still in critical condition.
The venue identified in official statements as the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar had claimed it could accommodate as many as 600 customers, officials said, but it was not clear how many people were inside Sunday night. Authorities said the site was licensed as a restaurant with a live music venue rather than as an entertainment venue, which would subject it to stricter fire safety requirements.
Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said he has ordered the city's administration to conduct a sweeping survey of similar establishments to assess risks and to step up enforcement of existing laws to improve safety standards, he said.
Amorn Pimanmas, president of the Thailand Structural Engineers Association, said he observed risk factors that could worsen fire hazards, including an enclosed building, low ceilings and possible use of foam as decorative materials without adequate flame-retardant treatment. He said limited air ventilation would allow smoke to accumulate quickly and create toxic air that could be the main cause of death for many victims and called for stricter enforcement of fire safety procedures.
Former patrons and other mourners visited the site Tuesday, adding to a growing pile of flowers leaning on the guardrails cordoning off the location. Handwritten messages in Thai and other languages, including Korean, were left alongside white flowers, and debris from the bar such as melted musical instruments and blackened chairs was moved to the sidewalk by officials investigating the cause of the fire.
Officials said the blaze was the city's deadliest in 17 years.