Deadly Bangkok Pub Fire Leaves at Least 27 Dead, Dozens Injured

Deadly Bangkok Pub Fire Leaves At Least 27 Dead, Dozens Injured

Video detail: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/12/asia/bangkok-deadly-fire-pub-latam-intl

A devastating overnight fire at a popular pub in Bangkok has left at least 27 people dead and dozens more injured, making it one of Thailand's deadliest entertainment venue disasters in recent years.

The blaze erupted shortly after midnight at the Na Ladprao pub in northern Bangkok, rapidly filling the venue with thick smoke and flames while customers and staff scrambled to escape. Firefighters managed to contain the fire within about 30 minutes, but by then the building had suffered extensive damage.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene Monday morning and confirmed the death toll had risen to 27. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.

According to the prime minister, a musician performing inside the pub reported seeing smoke coming from an electrical circuit breaker near the stage moments before the electricity suddenly failed. Witnesses then heard what appeared to be an explosion before dense smoke spread throughout the venue, making it difficult for people to find exits.

Officials said many victims were discovered near restroom areas at the rear of the building, suggesting they may have become trapped while trying to escape the rapidly deteriorating conditions.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said 63 people were transported to nearby hospitals, with 22 listed in critical condition. Rescue teams continue working to identify victims, as several people arrived without identification or lost consciousness during the emergency.

Images released after the fire showed the pub's interior heavily damaged, with burned furniture, collapsed sections of the building, and extensive smoke destruction throughout the venue.

Outside the pub, emergency officials established a registration center for relatives searching for missing family members and friends as rescue operations continued through the morning.

Singer Sukanya Wongwongwai, who was performing nearby, rushed to the scene after learning about the fire because several members of her band were scheduled to perform at the venue. She said one band member died, three others were hospitalized, and another remains unaccounted for.

People who escaped told her that the venue was suddenly plunged into darkness when the power failed. Thick smoke spread within seconds, leaving many unable to see exits or locate companions as panic quickly spread through the crowded building.

Thailand has experienced several deadly nightclub and entertainment venue fires over the past two decades. In 2022, a fire at a music venue in eastern Thailand claimed 14 lives. The country's deadliest nightclub disaster occurred on New Year's Day in 2009, when a fire at Bangkok's Santika Club killed 66 people and injured more than 200 others. Investigators later concluded that indoor fireworks ignited the blaze.

Authorities are continuing to investigate Monday's tragedy while emergency workers search the damaged building and officials work to notify victims' families. The death toll could change as rescue operations and victim identification efforts continue.