A devastating fire ripped through a pub in Bangkok in the early hours of Monday morning, killing at least 27 people and sending thick black smoke billowing into the night sky before firefighters brought the blaze under control. Thailand's Prime Minister confirmed the death toll at the scene as authorities launched an investigation into what caused the deadly inferno.
Blaze Tears Through Na Ladprao Pub at Midnight
The fire broke out at approximately midnight at the Na Ladprao pub, located in the northern part of the Thai capital. Shocking footage circulating on social media captured the scale of the disaster — enormous flames engulfing the venue while thick plumes of black smoke poured from the front entrance. Patrons were seen desperately trying to flee the building as the fire took hold.
Firefighters arrived at the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control within roughly half an hour. Images from inside the pub after the fire was extinguished revealed charred tables and chairs and a severely damaged interior.
PM Speaks at Scene; Eyewitness Account Points to Circuit Breaker
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul travelled to the scene and addressed reporters directly, confirming that 27 people had lost their lives and that a number of survivors with injuries had been transported to hospital. He said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Anutin relayed an account from a musician who had been performing at the pub at the time. The performer told the Prime Minister he had noticed smoke emerging from a circuit breaker near the stage before the power cut out. Moments later, an explosion was heard and thick smoke rapidly filled the venue, leaving patrons with little time to escape.
Many of the victims, the Prime Minister added, were found at the restrooms located toward the back of the pub — suggesting they were unable to reach an exit before the smoke overcame them.
Australians Potentially Affected; Consular Inquiries Under Way
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said officials were making urgent inquiries with local Thai authorities to determine whether any Australians were among those killed or injured in the blaze. No further details were available at the time of publication.
Thailand's History of Deadly Venue Fires
Tragically, this is not the first time Thailand has experienced a catastrophic fire at a nightlife venue. In 2022, a fire at a music pub in the country's eastern region claimed 14 lives. Before that, one of the deadliest such incidents in the country's history occurred on New Year's Eve in 2009, when a blaze at the Santika nightclub in Bangkok killed 66 people and left more than 200 injured — a fire believed to have been ignited by an indoor fireworks display. Monday's tragedy now joins a grim global list of building or structure fires that have claimed lives at entertainment venues around the world.
Investigations into the cause of the Na Ladprao fire are continuing, with authorities yet to formally confirm what triggered the blaze.
