Bangkok Bar Fire at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao Kills 30

A fire broke out at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar and restaurant in northern Bangkok close to midnight on July 12, 2026, during a live music performance. The death toll reached 30 by the morning of July 14, making it Bangkok's deadliest blaze in 17 years and the deadliest fire in Thailand in nearly two decades. Another 75 people were injured, with 24 in critical condition, 15 with moderate injuries, and 36 who sustained minor injuries and returned home.

Three of the 30 victims had not yet been identified at the time of reporting. Most victims were found trapped in windowless bathrooms near a rear exit that was too dark to navigate and may have been blocked by a candy-selling table.

Authorities suspect an electrical short circuit in a ceiling air conditioner triggered the fire. Police are investigating the electrical wiring installation across the building's ceiling and examining whether exits were obstructed, including by shelving units, lockers, and a candy-selling table, as well as whether flammable materials were used in stage decorations and soundproofing.

The venue is a single-storey concrete building approximately 50 years old, operated as a licensed restaurant. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited and inspected the fire scene following the disaster.

A blaze at Bangkok's Santika club during New Year celebrations in 2009 killed 67 people and injured more than 200, serving as the previous benchmark for deadly venue fires in Thailand.

The Straits Times, a center-right Singapore outlet, reported that smoke inhalation is believed to be the main cause of death among victims, according to the Bangkok Governor. The same outlet also reported that the venue passed a safety inspection in April 2026 and that the bar owner was being treated in an intensive care unit at the time of reporting.

The Guardian, a center-left British outlet, reported that police established negligence as the primary theory guiding their investigation. According to The Guardian, a door that was once an exit was bolted shut with a 'staff only' sign, reportedly because the proprietor feared customers would leave without paying. Police found signs that at least some exit doors may have been locked.

The Straits Times reported witness accounts describing smoke inside the venue before midnight, followed by lights going out, an explosion, and intense flames. The same outlet noted that the bar had a low ceiling and used combustible polyurethane foam decorations, which may have contributed to the rapid spread of fire.

The Guardian described evacuees who escaped through the front doors running through flames and sustaining serious injuries. At least one 31-year-old woman ran out while on fire, and bystanders helped extinguish the flames. The Guardian also reported that most victims are believed to be Thai nationals and that the injured were taken to 17 different hospitals across Bangkok.

The Straits Times reported that the venue's licence was under scrutiny, with questions over whether it was authorised to host live music. Waiters estimated approximately 300 customers were inside the venue when the fire broke out, compared to a typical nightly capacity of 600–700 patrons.

The Straits Times reported that Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced a committee was set up to investigate the fire and pledged more random safety checks at venues. The same outlet reported that 34 people had been interviewed by police as of July 14, and that authorities took DNA samples to help identify victims, with results estimated to take approximately three days.

The Guardian reported the story of Kaewudon Pongpanee, a 24-year-old pub employee from Laos, who survived because he was using a bathroom outside when the fire began. His younger brother Pongpaset Pongpanee, also a pub worker from Laos, was inside and died in the fire.

The Straits Times reported that relatives gathered at Police General Hospital on July 14 to claim bodies, and that some also visited the blackened bar to lay garlands and pray for the dead. The same outlet reported that Jawaee 'Cartoon' Sermsiri, aged 25, remained missing as of July 14, with her mother searching for her at Police General Hospital.

The Guardian reported that memorial tributes including white chrysanthemums, marigold garlands, and spiritual offerings of cake, rice, and soda were placed outside the cordoned-off pub by Tuesday.