Bangkok Pub Fire Kills 32 as Exits Blocked

Police have said that negligence is their main theory. An early assessment suggested that an electrical fault in a ceiling air-conditioning unit started the fire, which then spread quickly through flammable material. Officers said people could not escape because the exits were blocked or hard to find. One door was hidden behind a table selling sweets, another was narrowed by shelving, and a third had reportedly been locked by an owner who worried that customers might leave without paying. One survivor disagreed, saying a guard had led people out through a back door. The tragedy recalls earlier fires, including one that killed 67 people in Bangkok in 2009.

Experts point out that strict safety rules only apply to venues in a few special entertainment zones. Places like this one, registered as restaurants with live music, usually avoid them. The city governor has admitted this gap and ordered surprise inspections of similar venues. The owners have apologised and promised to help investigators, but their offer of about 300 US dollars in compensation has angered families. As officers continue to examine the wiring, campaigners fear that promises of reform will fade again.