The accounts of those who survived the massive fire at the “Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao” in Bangkok, which claimed the lives of at least 30 people and injured more than 70. Twenty-four of the injured remain hospitalized in critical condition.

Usa Tanchri, 41, narrowly escaped with her life by just a few seconds, as she had stepped outside the store to smoke when a powerful explosion was heard and flames spread rapidly throughout the building.

“There was a very loud explosion. There was no way to get out,” she told reporters. The two friends she was out with that night lost their lives.

“Just a few minutes ago, we were drinking and listening to music.”

Ousa remained on the street, watching as rescuers carried the body of one of her friends out of the destroyed bar, her face covered with a white cloth.

Just a few minutes earlier, the two women had been sitting together, drinking and listening to music. “I lost my mind. It was as if she were sleeping,” said the 41-year-old, describing the moment she saw her friend.

The fire broke out around midnight on Sunday at the popular nightclub in northern Bangkok. A video verified by Reuters showed thick smoke billowing from the building, followed by a horizontal jet of fire shooting out of an entrance, while panicked patrons ran to safety.

Blocked emergency exits are under investigation

Police are investigating the possibility of criminal negligence, looking into reports and evidence of closed or obstructed emergency exits, overloaded electrical systems, and flammable materials inside the building.

The initial assessment by Bangkok’s disaster management agency is that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in an air conditioner located on the roof, near the stage. The exact causes, however, have not yet been confirmed.

Many of the victims were found trapped in windowless restrooms, where they appear to have sought refuge in an attempt to escape the flames and thick smoke.

A mother was searching for her only son

On Monday morning, relatives and friends of the victims gathered at the Bangkok Institute of Forensic Medicine, where the bodies had been taken for identification.

Among them was 41-year-old Jansuda Tanla, who was searching for her 27-year-old son, Din, describing his tattoo to the officials.

The young man, a singer in a Thai pop-rock band, was performing at the bar when the fire broke out. According to his mother, he had dropped out of vocational school and turned to singing to help the family pay off their debts.

The band’s keyboardist, Kuang, a soldier who worked part-time as a musician to supplement his income, was also confirmed dead.

A friend and colleague of his asked entertainment venue owners to provide more gigs, stressing that musicians take the stage to provide for their families.

Workers and immigrants among the victims

Among the victims was a taxi driver and father of two, who was killed along with his partner. Relatives described him as a man who often helped his community, even giving students rides without asking for money.

The bar also employed young people who had traveled to Bangkok from other parts of Thailand and from neighboring countries to find work.

Pongpaset Pongpani, a 21-year-old migrant from Laos, worked as a waiter alongside his older brother. When the fire broke out, his 24-year-old brother grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to get closer, but was unable to get through the smoke and the unbearable heat.

Another worker, aged 23, had moved to the capital just one month earlier. According to his family, he died of asphyxiation.

The deadliest fire in the city in 17 years

This is the deadliest fire at a Bangkok nightclub in the last 17 years. The tragedy has brought back into the spotlight questions about the safety of nightclubs, the enforcement of building codes, and the adequacy of inspections.

The governor of Bangkok has ordered inspections of similar establishments throughout the city, while authorities are investigating whether the bar was operating with the proper license and whether it complied with required fire safety regulations.

Source: Reuters/ertnews.gr