The death toll from a devastating fire at a Bangkok music bar has climbed to 30, with authorities vowing stricter inspections as they probe potential safety failures. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced a committee to investigate the blaze and review safety regulations, promising more random checks at entertainment venues.
Twenty-four people remain in critical condition, officials said on Tuesday, while many others have been discharged from hospital. The fire erupted late Sunday at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar in the Chatuchak district, taking firefighters half an hour to bring under control.
Police are examining whether the bar complied with safety regulations. National police chief Kittharath Punpetch said the single-story venue had four exits, but two rear exits may have been blocked or unusable. One exit near the restrooms, where most victims were found, was obstructed by a table, while another had a damaged exit sign and a sliding door missing its handle.
Investigators suspect an electrical short circuit in a ceiling air conditioner may have sparked the fire. The bar had passed a safety inspection in April. Police are also checking whether gas canisters stored in the kitchen contributed to the blaze.
Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said a musician at the bar reported seeing smoke from a circuit breaker near the stage before the power cut and an explosion. Thick smoke quickly filled the venue.
Fire safety expert Lee Young Ju of Kyungil University in South Korea said an electrical fault involving audio or lighting equipment, or faulty wiring, may have ignited the ceiling materials, causing rapid fire spread.
Mourners have been leaving flowers and messages at the site, cordoned off by guardrails.