Bangkok pub fire death toll rises to 32 with dozens still hospitalized

Officials suspect a short circuit in an overhead air conditioner ignited stage decorations at the live music venue.

Aftermath of a deadly fire at a pub in Bangkok.

(photo credit: REUTERS)

ByREUTERS

JULY 15, 2026 08:12

The death toll from a sudden blaze at a Bangkok live music pub has climbed to 32 after two victims succumbed to injuries, according to the Police Hospital on Wednesday, while authorities probe possible negligence in the incident.

The fire, among the worst in Thailand in recent times, swept through the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub in the northern Chatuchak district shortly before midnight on Sunday, as witnesses reported a blast followed by flames and smoke sweeping across the single-story space.

The Erawan Emergency Medical Centre reported that 30 individuals remain under treatment in city hospitals, including 15 in intensive care, while 44 others have been released.

Authorities attribute the blaze to an electrical short circuit in a ceiling-mounted air conditioner.

Police are examining whether negligence played a role and if emergency exits were blocked, while the government pledges stricter oversight of entertainment spots through surprise checks to verify clear exits and overall safety compliance. The pub had passed an inspection back in April.

The pub drew local crowds and was often packed

Situated at a busy crossroads near train stations and shopping centers, the venue forms part of a group of bars that fill up on weekend evenings, offering meals, beverages, live performances, and sports broadcasts.

Specialists believe that flammable decorations on the stage, intended to enhance sound quality, caught fire rapidly and generated intense heat, thick smoke, and harmful fumes that overwhelmed those inside.

Prior concerns over combustible decorations, overcrowding, and blocked exits in Thai venues have surfaced repeatedly, notably following a 2009 Bangkok nightclub fire that claimed at least 65 lives.