A ferocious fire at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar in Bangkok has left 33 people dead and 15 others critically injured. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.
Athipat Wichan, 32, the leader of Thai indie band Thotsakan, was tinkering with song ideas off stage while watching his band perform when the fire engulfed the stage and cut off power. "I fumbled around until I found the entrance to the door, but flames shot towards me as soon as I reached it," he told BBC Thai.
The tragedy hit Thotsakan especially hard. Four of its 11 members – female vocalist Nahathai Satjalert, male vocalist Thitiwat Kaewkanha, keyboardist Pruttipong Phutmon and drummer Nathaphat Thammanitha – are among the dead.
An emotional Athipat says he regrets bringing his girlfriend into the band. "I had imagined us being together until we're old, her scolding me until we're old, but now I can't hear her voice any more," he said at Nahathai's funeral.
Athipat sustained injuries to his head and arms. He is also devastated about his bandmates who lost their lives. Drummer Nathaphat had only come on board a month ago, while keyboardist Pruttipong was about to leave the band. Vocalist Thitiwat had spoken about celebrating Athipat's birthday on Sunday. "Instead of celebrating my birthday, we ended up arranging a funeral," Athipat says.
Thotsakan's guitarist Chanate Trasing initially mistook the smoke for dry ice used in stage performances. But when he observed it swirling rapidly rather than spreading out as dry ice would, he dropped his guitar, jumped off stage and started running. "It smelled like plastic burning. It stung my nose," Chanate recounts.
The deadly inferno has raised familiar questions about fire safety standards across Thailand, especially at entertainment venues. Thai authorities say they are investigating if negligence led to the fire, as survivors reported doors being locked and a lack of signage demarcating emergency exits.