Bangkok pub fire kills at least 27 as locked-exit fears emerge
Al Jazeera reported that the midnight blaze has renewed scrutiny of fire safety at entertainment venues in Bangkok.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
A fire tore through a Bangkok pub around midnight on Monday, killing at least 27 people, according to Al Jazeera. The blaze has renewed concern over fire safety controls at nightlife venues, with Al Jazeera reporting fears that several exits may have been locked.
Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng reported from the scene in Bangkok on July 13, describing a deadly fire that had again put emergency exits and crowd safety under scrutiny. The report did not identify the pub by name or give a cause for the fire.
The number of people injured was not included in Al Jazeera’s initial account. The report also did not say whether authorities had confirmed that any doors were locked, only that fears had emerged over possible blocked or locked exits.
Locked exits can turn a venue fire into a mass-casualty incident by trapping people inside as smoke spreads. Al Jazeera said the Bangkok blaze has brought attention back to safety lapses, a concern that will likely shape the early investigation into how so many people died.
No official statement from police, fire services or city authorities was cited in the report. Al Jazeera’s account centered on the death toll, the timing of the fire and the concern that emergency access may have failed during the evacuation.
The fire happened at a time when pubs and bars are typically crowded, shortly after midnight. Al Jazeera said at least 27 people were killed, leaving open the possibility that the toll could change as authorities review the scene and identify victims.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.