Survivors and relatives of individuals impacted by a tragic bar fire in Bangkok made a visit to a nearby police station on Wednesday to request compensation, retrieve belongings, and provide statements regarding the incident. The fire, which occurred on Sunday night, resulted in the loss of at least 32 lives and left over 70 individuals injured, with 15 still in critical condition, as reported by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar. Many of the deceased were discovered trapped in bathrooms without windows, indicating they may have sought refuge from the fire, according to law enforcement officials.
Wiroon Supasingsiripreecha, head of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, disclosed to the press that most victims perished due to smoke inhalation, with a few succumbing to burn injuries. Natthaphong Lakhorn, 26, who was present at the bar during the fire, recounted witnessing white smoke emerging from the stage, initially mistaking it for dry ice effects before realizing it was a fire outbreak.
Natthaphong, who escaped through the bar’s back door near the bathrooms, described the chaotic situation when the fire erupted, mentioning the power outage immediately after. He visited the Phahonyothin Police Station in Bangkok on Wednesday to provide his account, displaying images of personal items like smartphones left behind at the bar during the incident. Kanticha Singkhon, 25, also visited the station to collect belongings of her deceased mother, emphasizing the need for the bar owners to proactively engage with affected families.
A legal representative for the bar owners stated that survivors and relatives would receive an initial compensation of 10,000 baht (approximately $420 Cdn). Kanticha expressed her financial struggles in arranging her mother’s funeral and highlighted the lack of communication from the bar owners.
