Thailand Disaster Leaves 27 Dead and 63 Injured in Bangkok Pub Fire

The Thailand disaster at the Rong Beer Na Ladphrao pub in Bangkok killed 27 people and injured 63 others, with obstructed emergency exits and rapid spread of smoke and flames cited as factors in the high casualty count. Sixty-three injured victims are being treated at 16 Bangkok hospitals including Phyathai Phaholyothin (11), Rajavithi (11), and ViMUT (9), with 22 in serious or critical condition. [1]

Thailand Disaster Death Toll and Injuries

Sixty-three people injured by the fire at Rong Beer Na Ladprao are being treated at 16 hospitals in Bangkok. [1] Twenty-two of them were seriously injured, police said on Monday. [1] The death toll remained at 27 confirmed fatalities. [1] The hospitals those injured in the deadly fire were admitted to are: Praram 9: 1, King Chulalongkorn Memorial: 4, Phramongkutklao: 1, Police General: 2, Paolo Kaset: 5, Petchavej: 4, Phyathai Phaholyothin: 11, Phyathai 2: 1, Paolo Chokchai 4: 2, Ladprao: 5, Rajavithi: 11, Chulabhorn: 1, ViMUT: 9, CGH Phaholyothin: 1, Bhumibol Adulyadej: 1, Ramathodi: 4. [1] At least 27 people were killed and 63 others injured after a fire swept through a crowded café in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, late Sunday, authorities said. [4] Officials warned the death toll could rise, with 22 of the injured reported to be in critical condition. [4]

Fire Origin and Rapid Spread

The fire broke out shortly before midnight on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at the Rong Beer Na Ladphrao pub in northern Bangkok's Chatuchak district, starting near the front stage area likely due to an electrical short circuit in a ceiling air conditioner or circuit breaker. [2] The initial assessment was that an electrical short circuit in an air conditioner located in the ceiling caused the fire, the disaster administration said. [2] Based on survivor accounts, officials said the fire is understood to have started at the front stage section of the pub and spread rapidly, forcing many to run to the back of the venue, which houses the kitchen and the bathrooms. [2] The blaze moved with terrifying speed, killing 27 people and wounding more than 60. [3] The initial assessment by Bangkok's disaster administration suggested the fire was likely caused by an electrical short circuit in a ceiling-mounted air conditioner. [3] Based on survivor accounts, officials said the fire started near the front stage area before quickly spreading across the venue. [3] Videos showed thick black smoke pouring out of the pub before a powerful burst of flames shot through the entrance as customers screamed and ran into the street around midnight. [3]

Blocked Exits and Evacuation Failures

Obstructed emergency exits, including beer crates blocking one near the kitchen and a table in front of the other, hindered evacuation, causing many patrons to flee to the back where the kitchen, bathrooms, and toilets had no exits. [2] “There are two fire exits, one is near the kitchen. There were beer crates in the way,” Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters, adding that there was a table in the way of the other fire exit, hindering evacuation. [2] Officials said many victims were trapped at the rear of the venue after emergency exits were blocked. [3] According to Reuters, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said beer crates and tables obstructed some fire exits, hampering evacuation efforts. [3] “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,” Anutin told reporters. [3]

Eyewitness and First Responder Accounts

Survivors and first responders described thick smoke filling the venue rapidly, with most victims found near the toilets suffering from smoke inhalation; videos showed smoke billowing out followed by a horizontal plume of fire. [2] One video of the incident posted on social media and verified by Reuters showed thick smoke billowing out of the pub, before an intense horizontal plume of fire jets out of a doorway, as screaming customers fled the premises around midnight (1700 GMT) on Sunday. [2] Firefighter Chakrit Khongkom, 45, said he arrived on the first fire truck to see the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub alight and many patrons stranded inside, several of them trying to escape from the back of the venue. [2] “The smoke was everywhere,” he said. [2] “Most of the survivors were choking on smoke.” [2] Body-camera footage from an emergency worker seen by Reuters showed firefighters in oxygen masks moving through the darkened remains of the pub with torches as they searched for survivors and victims. [2] Several victims can be seen lying prone on the floor near the pub’s toilets while rescue workers carry in stretchers. [2] “We sent in a rescue and search squad and found that a lot of people were inside the toilet. Most of them were trying to escape to the back because they saw that the flame was at the front,” said Chakrit. [2] “My friend, who was singing on stage, said at first they noticed the smell of something burning, then a little after they saw the ceiling was on fire,” said Sukanya, 32. [2] “Some people were injured because of the (debris) from the ceiling because it seems that the ceiling was made out of foam material to absorb sound.” [2]

Official Response and Investigation

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, and firefighter Chakrit Khongkom visited or responded to the scene, where forensic investigators are examining evidence and bodies for identification. [2] “We have recovered 27 bodies, others are being sent to hospital,” said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the site early on Monday. [2] Another 63 people were injured, 22 critically, in the incident at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub and have been hospitalised, said Suriyachai Rawiwan, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. [2] “We need to wait for forensic investigators to examine the scene more closely,” he added. [2] In the early hours of the morning, emergency personnel remained at the scene as bodies were prepared for transport and forensic teams collected evidence to help identify the victims. [2] Numbered bodies lay in two rows awaiting removal, surrounded by a large number of rescue workers. [2]

Venue Context

The pub is located in a busy part of northern Bangkok connected by its urban rail systems, adjacent to two shopping malls and within walking distance of cinemas, large parks and the Chatuchak weekend market that is popular with foreign tourists. [2] The live music venue had a stage, two bars and a kitchen, with a capacity of more than 300 people and four fire exits, according to its Facebook page. [3] Investigators are examining whether all exits were accessible at the time of the blaze and whether blocked escape routes contributed to the high death toll. [3]

What to watch next: Forensic investigators will continue examining the scene more closely while emergency personnel prepare bodies for transport and identification.