At least 27 people were killed and eight were critically injured in a fire that erupted at a bar in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district early Sunday. The blaze began near the stage and spread rapidly, cutting power and filling the room with smoke.

Firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after midnight and extinguished the flames within half an hour. The victims were found mainly in a bathroom where they had taken shelter. This incident follows several similar fires in Thailand in recent years, including a 2009 nightclub fire that killed 66 people and a 2022 bar fire that resulted in 22 deaths.

The fire started near the stage of the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar and quickly engulfed the interior, according to eyewitness footage posted online. Preliminary investigations by Bangkok’s disaster mitigation department suggested an electrical short circuit in an air‑conditioning unit as a possible cause, though no official determination has been made. Authorities said the flammable ceiling decorations may have accelerated the spread, and officials noted possible obstruction of the emergency exit that could have hindered escape. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the site and reported that a musician present described hearing a blast and seeing people flee the smoke and flames. The musician also said many occupants retreated to the back of the building and hid in the restroom. Surin Jaiharn, a motorcyclist who assisted several victims, told AFP he used clothing to smother flames on their bodies. A driver who alerted the fire department said he broke windows to help two people escape.

Officials have promised a full investigation into the cause of the fire, which remains undetermined, and have reiterated commitments to improve fire and electrical safety standards.