Deadly fire at Bangkok pub kills 27, injures 73 as police investigate possible negligence

A devastating fire at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub in northern Bangkok on July 12, 2026, killed 27 people and injured 73 others. The blaze, likely caused by an electrical short circuit near the stage, spread rapidly and trapped patrons inside. National Police Chief Kittiratt Phanphet confirmed that investigators are pursuing negligence as their primary theory, focusing on locked emergency doors, exits blocked by beer crates, and flammable soundproofing foam that hindered escape.

Bangkok pub fire incident

• ▪An explosive fire tore through the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub in northern Bangkok close to midnight on July 12, 2026
• ▪The Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub was licensed as a restaurant and live music venue and had undergone a safety inspection in April 2026

Electrical short circuit cause

• ▪A performing musician reported seeing smoke coming out of a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out and an explosion occurred
• ▪An initial assessment by Bangkok's disaster administration indicates an electrical short circuit in a ceiling air conditioner may have caused the fire

Blocked exits safety violations

• ▪Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that beer crates blocked one of the pub's two fire exits located near the kitchen
• ▪An exit door at the pub was bolted shut because the proprietor feared customers would leave without paying their bills

Death toll injury count

• ▪The fire at the Bangkok pub killed 27 people and injured 73 others, with 22 to 25 of the injured in critical condition
• ▪Many of the deceased victims were found inside the restrooms at the back of the pub where they had fled to escape the flames

Police negligence investigation

• ▪National Police Chief Kittiratt Phanphet announced that police have established negligence as the primary theory guiding their investigation
• ▪Police are investigating the use of flammable materials in the pub's stage decorations and soundproofing foam

Thailand venue fire history

• ▪A fire at a music pub in Chonburi, Thailand, killed at least 13 people in 2022
• ▪A fire during a New Year's Eve celebration at the Santika nightclub in Bangkok killed 67 people and injured over 200 on January 1, 2009