Bangkok bar fire kills at least 27, search for more victims continues

A devastating fire tore through a popular Bangkok beer bar, killing at least 27 people and leaving authorities searching for more victims. The blaze erupted at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao in the Ladprao district shortly before midnight, spreading with alarming speed through the establishment. Firefighters battled the flames for about 45 minutes before bringing the inferno under control.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed the grim toll at the scene, with state broadcaster Thai PBS reporting at least 30 fatalities based on rescue worker accounts. Seventeen women and eight men had been identified by early reports, but the search for additional victims was ongoing, suggesting the death toll could rise.

Many of the victims were found trapped in the bar's restrooms, indicating a desperate, failed attempt to escape the rapidly spreading flames. Numerous injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals, though details about their conditions remain scarce.

While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, witness accounts point to a potential electrical malfunction. Some witnesses reported seeing smoke emanating from a fuse box, followed by a power outage and a subsequent explosion. However, officials have not yet confirmed these details.

Authorities are also working to determine if any foreign nationals were among the dead or injured, a question that remains unclear despite the bar's proximity to the internationally renowned Chatuchak Market, which draws tens of thousands of visitors on weekends. The market itself was closed at the time of the fire.

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Smoke came out from the fuse box, then the power went out and there was a big explosion.