It was 11:57 at night in Bangkok when a short circuit in an air conditioner, near the stage where a live band was playing, sparked the tragedy. A musician managed to see smoke coming from the electrical panel seconds before the entire venue, Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, went dark.
People ran toward the back, near the bathrooms, looking for an exit that never came. According to Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, there were two emergency exits, but one was blocked by beer boxes and the other by a table. At least 27 people died and 63 were injured, 22 of them in critical condition.
Singer Sukanya Wongwongwai, who learned about the fire while performing nearby, recounted what survivors told her. The power went out, smoke covered everything, and they could no longer find one another. One of her bandmates died, three ended up hospitalized, and one remains missing. Firefighters from three stations took 35 minutes to bring the flames under control, while authorities continue trying to identify the victims.
