A major fire at a pub in Bangkok killed 27 people and injured more than 70 others, including 25 who were critically hurt, as police investigated whether safety violations and possible negligence contributed to the deadly blaze.

The fire broke out shortly before midnight on Sunday at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a restaurant and live-music venue in northern Bangkok. Video verified by Reuters showed thick smoke pouring from the building before flames erupted through a doorway as customers rushed to escape.

Thailand’s medical authorities said 73 people were injured in the incident. Of those, 25 were in critical condition, while 32 injured people had already received treatment and been discharged.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene and said many victims appeared to have fled toward the rear of the building, including the bathrooms, where there was reportedly no clearly visible emergency exit.

Police said they were examining whether emergency exits had been obstructed or locked and whether flammable materials used for stage decorations and soundproofing contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

Bangkok’s disaster administration said an initial assessment pointed to a possible electrical short circuit involving an air-conditioning unit installed in the ceiling. Investigators were continuing to examine the cause.

National Police Chief Kittiratt Phanphet said negligence was the main theory being considered by investigators. The owner of the venue was among those receiving intensive medical treatment, while police planned to question employees as part of the investigation.

Firefighter Chakrit Khongkom said he arrived with the first fire truck and found the building engulfed in flames, with numerous customers trapped inside. Several people attempting to escape through the front were badly burned, while many survivors were suffering from smoke inhalation.

Emergency body-camera footage reviewed by Reuters showed firefighters wearing breathing equipment searching the darkened building for victims and survivors. Several people were found near the toilets, where rescue teams brought stretchers to remove casualties.

Survivor accounts suggested that the fire may have started around the stage at the front of the venue before spreading quickly. Customers then moved toward the kitchen and bathroom areas at the back of the building.

Sukanya Wongwongwai, who was searching for a missing friend outside the pub, said her friend had been performing on stage when people first noticed a burning smell. Shortly afterward, they saw flames coming from the ceiling.

Sukanya also said some people may have been injured by falling ceiling material, which appeared to have been made from foam intended to improve sound absorption.

The incident has renewed scrutiny of fire safety at entertainment venues in Thailand, which has experienced several deadly fires in recent years. At least 13 people were killed in a nightclub fire in Chonburi in 2022, while a 2009 New Year celebration at a crowded Bangkok nightclub ended with 65 deaths. Investigations into the earlier incidents identified safety breaches among the contributing factors.

City authorities said Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao was officially licensed as a restaurant and live-music venue and had undergone a safety inspection in April. At that time, authorities said fire exits, emergency signs and fire extinguishers were present.

However, officials said investigators would examine the building’s ceiling materials, decorations and other equipment, as well as whether tables, beer crates or other objects had blocked escape routes.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said there were two fire exits, including one near the kitchen, but beer crates were blocking the area.

During an inspection of the venue, officials also told Prime Minister Anutin that a door that had previously served as an exit had been bolted shut. The door reportedly had a “staff only” sign and could still be opened from inside, but officials said customers would not have known it was an emergency exit.

Authorities were continuing to inspect the scene and gather evidence to determine how the fire started, how quickly it spread and whether violations of safety regulations contributed to the deaths and injuries.

SOURCE: Reuters, Chalinee Thirasupa, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng, July 13–14, 2026.