Bangkok’s Bar Fire Trap!
Thai bar fire killed at least 27 people!
Bangkok, Jul 13 (EFE).-
Thai police are investigating whether blocked emergency exits prevented patrons from escaping a fire at a bar in northern Bangkok that killed at least 27 people and injured 63 others, including 22 who remain in critical condition, and whether the circumstances could constitute criminal negligence by those responsible for the venue.
Two rear exits at the bar, located near Bangkok’s sprawling Chatuchak market, a major weekend destination for tourists, presented “critical hazards” during the emergency, Thailand’s national police chief, Gen. Kitthrath Punpetch, said at a news conference Monday.
One of the exits, near the restrooms, where police believe many patrons fled seeking refuge and water, was blocked by tables and cages. Investigators are also examining whether the door had been locked, a factor that could expose the bar’s owners or managers to criminal liability.
A second rear exit, a sliding door near the kitchen, also could not be used because it lacked a handle and was located in a narrow corridor “seriously obstructed by lockers and shelving,” police said. Authorities said the establishment was operating with a valid license.
The fire broke out late Sunday and was brought under control shortly after midnight local time. Most of the 27 victims died from smoke inhalation rather than burns, according to officials, who said most of those injured are Thai nationals.
Authorities believe the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit in a rooftop air-conditioning unit, which they say likely triggered the intense blaze captured in videos recorded by witnesses and widely shared on social media.
As police continue investigating the disaster and possible aggravating factors, forensic experts are focusing on an area of the bar where they found “highly flammable decorative elements, lighting or soundproofing materials,” which may have been the fire’s point of origin.
Investigators are also examining whether butane gas cylinders in the kitchen exploded and reviewing the venue’s emergency procedures and safety measures.
The national police chief said authorities will determine whether the bar’s management was criminally negligent while investigators continue interviewing witnesses, survivors and emergency responders.
In August 2022, a nightclub fire in Thailand killed at least 15 people and injured 37 others. The owner was charged with negligence and operating the venue without a license. EFE
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