Bangkok Bar Fire Death Toll Hits 32 as Safety Loopholes Leave Pubs Outside Tougher Rules
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 15
Bangkok Bar Fire Death Toll Hits 32 as Safety Loopholes Leave Pubs Outside Tougher Rules
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 15
Summary
32 people are now confirmed dead in Sunday night's fire at Bangkok's Rong Beer Na Ladprao pub, up from earlier reports of 30, in the city's latest mass-casualty nightclub blaze.
Investigators and fire experts say an electrical fault likely ignited flammable sound-insulation material, while toxic smoke, a single narrow front exit and partially blocked rear exits trapped patrons.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the venue had passed an inspection three months ago and ordered surprise checks on restaurants operating as de facto pubs, vowing to apply stricter standards and shut risky sites.
Those tougher rules were introduced after Bangkok's 2009 Santika Club fire killed 67, but they apply mainly to venues in designated entertainment zones; Rong Beer Na Ladprao and the 2022 Mountain B club, where 26 died, fell outside them.
The case has renewed scrutiny of weak enforcement and corruption in Thailand, where past venue owners and officials have faced limited or delayed punishment and repeated safety pledges have not stopped similar disasters.