Bangkok: A huge fire engulfed a pub in Bangkok early Monday morning, killing at least 27 people before firefighters brought the blaze under control, officials said.
Footage shared online by first responders showed a huge blaze raging, with plumes of smoke coming out of the front door of the Na Ladprao pub in the northern part of the Thai capital. People were seen trying to flee as thick black smoke billowed into the sky. Rescuers said the fire was reported around midnight.
Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters at the scene that 27 people died and several of the injured had been taken to hospital. He said the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Anutin said a musician performing at the pub told him he saw smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out. An explosion was then heard, and thick smoke quickly filled the venue.
Many of the victims were found in the restrooms at the back of the pub, Anutin added.
Firefighters took about half an hour to bring the blaze under control. Photos from the scene showed charred tables and chairs, along with extensive damage to the pub's interior.
Thailand has witnessed similar tragedies in the past. In 2022, 14 people were killed in a fire at a music pub in the eastern part of the country.
More than a decade earlier, 66 people were killed and over 200 injured in a fire during a New Year's Eve celebration at Bangkok's Santika nightclub on January 1, 2009. The blaze was believed to have been sparked by an indoor fireworks display.