27 killed in Bangkok fire

A severe fire that broke out in the early hours of Monday, July 13, 2026, at a popular nightlife entertainment venue in Bangkok, Thailand, has killed 27 people and injured many others. The tragedy occurred at a live music bar called "Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao" located near the Chatuchak Market in the northern part of Bangkok.

Authorities have confirmed that among the deceased at this popular weekend venue, there are 18 women and 9 men.

The fire broke out close to midnight on Sunday, causing panic among the people present who rushed to save their lives. According to eyewitnesses and artists who were there, smoke first emerged from an electrical circuit breaker near the stage, followed by a power outage and a large explosion. Subsequently, the fire rapidly spread to the decorative materials on the ceiling, engulfing the entire building in thick, dark smoke.

Although it took firefighters over 30 minutes to completely extinguish the blaze, a large number of people were already trapped inside the building. The bodies of most of the deceased were found in the restroom area at the back of the building. It is reported that they had rushed there to escape the thick smoke and fire, but due to the lack of emergency exits and the existing doors being blocked, they died from suffocation.

Approximately 63 people injured in the accident have been hospitalized, and the condition of 22 of them is critical, stated Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. It is mentioned that among the victims are local residents as well as members of the band that performed there. The identification process for many of the injured and deceased has been further complicated by the fact that most did not possess identification cards, and some were unconscious.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene to observe the situation and ordered a formal investigation. Forensic police teams and rescue officials are currently gathering evidence to determine if violations of safety regulations, overcrowding, or an electrical fault caused the accident. Relatives, unable to find information about their loved ones, were seen waiting around the scene in deep distress.

This incident has once again sparked intense discussion and concern about fire safety standards in Thailand's nightlife entertainment venues. Previously, in 2009, a fire at the "Santika" nightclub in Bangkok killed 66 people, and in 2022, a similar fire at a music hall resulted in 14 deaths. This latest tragedy marks one of the deadliest nightclub accidents recorded in recent Thai history.