Bangkok bar fire death toll rises to 30

BANGKOK - The death toll from Monday's fire at a bar in Bangkok's Lat Phrao area has risen to 30, prompting the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to order stricter safety inspections of entertainment-related establishments across the capital.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said a total of 75 people were injured in the blaze, with 36 discharged from hospital as of 9.30am on Tuesday.

"The death toll from the fire in the Lat Phrao area has risen to 30. Three bodies are still awaiting formal identification," he told reporters after a meeting of BMA agency heads on Tuesday.

According to the BMA, three critically injured victims had died in hospital, bringing the death toll to 30. 

However, Chadchart said the BMA had established a fact-finding committee to investigate the incident, review shortcomings and recommend improvements to safety regulations and enforcement.

He said all 50 district offices had been instructed to carry out proactive inspections of restaurants, bars and similar establishments, applying safety standards equivalent to those required for licensed entertainment venues.

"The inspection checklist will be strengthened beyond existing legal requirements, including checks on flammable decorative materials, emergency exits, emergency lighting and fire-fighting equipment," he said.

He highlighted that district offices have also been instructed to conduct unannounced inspections during operating hours to ensure safety measures are properly implemented.

"Inspections conducted during the day may not reflect actual operating conditions. We need to inspect premises while they are open to determine whether emergency exits are obstructed and whether safety systems function properly," Chadchart said.

He added that many establishments were registered as restaurants rather than entertainment venues because they were located outside designated zoning areas, placing them under different regulatory requirements.

The BMA will propose that the Ministry of Interior review zoning regulations and related legislation to ensure businesses with similar operations are subject to consistent safety standards.

Chadchart also directed all district offices to submit monthly reports on establishments operating beyond permitted hours, selling alcohol after legal closing times, or suspected of illegal activities, for further action by the relevant authorities.

Thai authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, with blocked emergency exits, flammable interior materials and possible electrical faults among the key lines of inquiry. - BERNAMA