Owner survives as probe begins into deadly Bangkok restaurant inferno

The owner of the Chatuchak beer house engulfed by a massive fire that killed at least 27 people was among those injured and is receiving medical treatment in hospital, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Monday.

The owner, whom the governor did not identify, was inside the building when the fire broke out.

The authorities have launched an investigation into possible safety lapses at the venue after preliminary findings suggested that obstructions may have blocked one of the four emergency exits, trapping patrons inside as thick smoke and flames rapidly filled the building.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has established a coordination centre for victims and relatives of those missing or feared dead, while forensic teams continue the process of identifying the victims, some of whom were burnt beyond recognition.

Relatives, friends and anyone concerned about missing family members or friends have been urged to contact the centre for information.

Investigators have recovered mobile phones left behind at the scene and are using them in the effort to identify those who had been in the venue.

The Police Forensic Science Division is examining the scene to determine the cause of the blaze.

Preliminary findings indicate that a number of victims were found near the building's left-side emergency exit, raising concerns that the escape route may have been obstructed.

The governor said the fire spread with exceptional speed, particularly across the ceiling and interior decorative materials.

Although many plastic tables and chairs remained relatively undamaged, he said toxic smoke produced by burning decorative materials is believed to have been a major factor in the high death toll.

Preliminary inspections have found that the building had two escape routes, one of which led through the kitchen and was primarily intended for staff. Investigators will determine whether both exits met legal safety standards and were fully accessible during the emergency.

Chadchart said investigators had received information suggesting that tables had been placed near one of the exits and that other materials may also have obstructed escape routes, noting that city officials had inspected the premises in April and found that it had two fire exits, illuminated emergency exit signs and fire extinguishers as required by law.

"However, the condition during an inspection is not necessarily the same as during actual operation… From what we have seen, tables selling sweets had been placed near an exit and materials had been stored along one escape route. The layout had changed since the inspection, making evacuation more difficult. Some patrons had also been drinking alcohol, which may have further hindered their escape," he said.

The governor also said the establishment was licensed as a restaurant with live music rather than an entertainment venue, allowing it to operate legally until midnight. The fire broke out shortly before midnight.

He said one of the main concerns is the combustible decorative materials used in the ceiling, which allowed the fire to spread rapidly while generating large volumes of toxic smoke.

"Entertainment venues are subject to stricter requirements on fire-resistant materials, but these regulations may not apply to restaurants with live music," Chadchart said, adding: "We may need to review the regulations and expand safety standards to cover these types of premises as well."

According to the Bangkok Emergency Medical Centre (Erawan Centre), the fire broke out at 11.57pm inside the single-storey concrete building with a metal-sheet roof. The blaze destroyed the entire interior, damaging an estimated 164 square metres.

Emergency services say that a preliminary assessment suggests that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit in an air-conditioning unit installed above the ceiling.

In addition to the fatalities, 63 people were injured and rushed to hospitals across Bangkok. Investigators are continuing to examine the scene and gather evidence following one of the capital's deadliest nightlife fires in years.