Death toll from Bangkok music bar fire rises to 30 as safety investigation continues

Firefighters took approximately half an hour to bring the blaze under control after it erupted late Sunday night at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar, which the Associated Press reported described itself in Thai as a brewery or beer hall capable of accommodating up to 600 customers. Authorities said it was unclear how many patrons were inside at the time.

Police said most of the victims were found trapped in windowless bathrooms, where they appeared to have sought refuge from the flames. An investigation into the fire's cause and the bar's compliance with safety regulations remained ongoing as of Tuesday.

Amorn Pimanmas, president of the Thailand Structural Engineers Association, told reporters outside the bar on Monday that, while he had not formally inspected the venue, he observed several features that could have worsened the fire's effects. He described the building as enclosed with low ceilings and said it may have used foam for decorative materials without adequate flame-retardant treatment. He added that limited air ventilation would have caused smoke to accumulate rapidly, potentially making toxic air the primary cause of death for many victims.