Bangkok bar fire toll reaches 30 as families claim bodies

Grieving relatives gathered at a Bangkok hospital Tuesday to claim the bodies of victims from a devastating bar fire that has claimed 30 lives. The blaze, which erupted late Sunday at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar and restaurant during a live music performance, also left 75 people injured, 24 of them in critical condition.

As authorities continued to sift through the wreckage, questions emerged about the fire's cause and the venue's safety. Witnesses reported smoke and a power outage before an explosion and intense flames engulfed the bar. Investigators are examining a possible electrical fault and whether emergency exits were obstructed. The venue's license is also under scrutiny, with officials questioning if it was authorized to host live music.

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Since we haven’t found her yet, we can only wait. We are holding onto hope.

Amidst the tragedy, some families clung to hope, searching for missing loved ones. Booyaporn Sermsiri was at the Police General Hospital awaiting DNA results to identify her 25-year-old daughter, Jawaee “Cartoon” Sermsiri, who remains unaccounted for. "Since we haven’t found her yet, we can only wait. We are holding onto hope," Sermsiri said, praying for her daughter's safety.

Nearby, employees from the Union shopping mall practiced using fire extinguishers, a somber reminder of the disaster as firefighters worked at the scene. The blackened bar itself became a site of mourning, with relatives laying garlands and praying for the dead.

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I am praying. Praying that she is alright.