The deadly fire at a Bangkok bar has claimed at least 30 lives, with dozens more injured, as police probe potential negligence in the incident, Survivors reported locked doors and the absence of clear emergency exit signage at the venue, which is now under scrutiny.

Possible Role of Flammable Decorations

Police General Kittiratt Phanphet stated that the use of flammable materials as decoration may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which originated near the stage. “This indicates a lack of caution and disregard for the safety of the patrons,” he said on Monday.

Experts believe the blaze was caused by a short circuit in an air conditioner, which quickly cut power throughout the bar; the fire engulfed the stage within seconds, with survivors describing the scene as chaotic.

Victims Found in Restrooms

First responders found many of the victims in the restrooms at the end of the bar, from where they likely tried to escape — As of Tuesday morning, 27 of the deceased victims have been identified, while more than 70 people are injured, 24 of them critically.

Phatsara Khamloet, a former visitor to the bar, told BBC Thai that the venue had poor navigation and unclear exit markings, she described having to follow a “winding route” to reach the bathroom, adding to the confusion during the fire.

Busakorn Saensuk. A fire safety expert. Noted that the door near the restrooms was locked and that the two entrance doors were partially obstructed by furniture and other objects, while she explained that customers would instinctively have run towards the back of the bar, where the restrooms were located, but were unable to escape.

Flammable Materials and Regulatory Gaps

Busakorn also highlighted that the stage was decorated with highly flammable materials such as plastic flowers and combustible foam. The bar was registered as a “restaurant with live music” rather than an “entertainment venue,” which means it was not required to use fire-retardant materials, according to Bangkok authorities.

Professor Worsak Kanok Nukulchai, a specialist in structural engineering, explained that many people likely died from inhaling toxic smoke before being burned, and the first flames reacted with flammable materials to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, often referred to as the “toxic twins” of fire smoke.

Bangkok’s Metropolitan Administration has confirmed it is reviewing regulations governing the materials allowed in the construction and decoration of entertainment venues and restaurants — Meanwhile, reports indicate the owner of the bar previously owned another pub in Thailand’s Yasothon province, which was also destroyed by fire in December 2019. No casualties were reported in that earlier incident, as the blaze occurred during the day.