Thailand begins identifying victims of Bangkok bar fire

Medical teams and authorities in Thailand are focused on identifying the victims of a devastating fire that engulfed a Bangkok bar, leaving a preliminary toll of 27 dead and over 30 injured. The incident occurred late Sunday night in a bustling tourist district of the capital.

According to the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department (BFRD), 18 women and 9 men succumbed to the flames and smoke. Among the injured, 22 are in critical condition. The fire began just before midnight on Sunday near the massive Chatuchak market in the northern part of the city. Firefighters reported a total of 63 injured, though Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated Monday that the number of injured was 35, withholding further details pending police investigation.

Bangkok Governor Chachachart Sittiphan also cited 63 injured in statements to public television Thai PBS, emphasizing that identifying the deceased is the primary concern in the coming hours. The city administration has set up a coordination center and dedicated phone lines to assist individuals seeking information about relatives who were at or near the bar on Sunday night and are now unreachable.

Initial reports suggest most of the injured are Thai nationals, with one person from neighboring Laos and two others whose nationalities are currently unknown. The bar, identified as Na Lat Phrao Beer Hall, was reportedly hosting around 200 people when the fire started inside, near the stage. The BFRD stated the blaze "completely destroyed" the area, damaging an estimated 164 square meters. Authorities suspect a short circuit in an air conditioning unit on the ceiling sparked the intense flames, which were captured on video by witnesses and widely shared on social media.

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The city administration has set up a coordination center and dedicated phone lines to assist individuals seeking information about relatives who were at or near the bar on Sunday night and are now unreachable.