Smoke blocked all visibility, trapping disoriented customers in lounges, Thai police said.
A deadly fire engulfed a bar in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday evening, killing at least 28 people and seriously injuring several others, authorities have reported.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started near the music stage of the bar and spread quickly, while many customers were lost in the smoke and stuck in the bathroom for fear that followed.
At least 71 people were injured, with 25 remaining in critical condition, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reported on Monday.
“When the power went out – for example, at the entrance to the toilet – the visibility was reduced to zero. Everyone tried to get out, but the toilet had no windows; it was the last place,” Thailand’s national police chief Kittharath Punpetch said at a press conference on Monday.
“Once inside, escape was impossible because the smoke had already filled the area, and facing it meant facing danger.”
Thai police have begun to focus their forensic investigation on the area above the music stage as they continue to work to determine the cause of the fatal fire, he added.
Police will investigate the owners for negligence amid reports that emergency exits were blocked, he said.
Horrifying video from the night of the incident shows flames pouring out of the bar’s front entrance, with customers running away surrounded by flames.
Horrifying footage from inside the pub shows people choking on smoke as they left the dark venue.
The Chatuchak District Office has issued an order to close the facility for 30 days while an investigation is conducted.
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