Many of the 27 Killed in Bar Blaze Were Found in Bathrooms

A late-night blaze at a popular Bangkok bar left at least 27 people dead and more than 60 in hospital, Thailand's prime minister said Monday, as investigators probe how the fire spread so fast. Firefighters were called just after midnight to the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao venue in the city's Chatuchak district and arrived to find flames shooting from the entrance as customers tried to run through the fire to escape, the BBC reports. Twenty-two of the injured are in critical condition, Reuters reports.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said most of the bodies were found in the restrooms at the back, where people appeared to have sought refuge from smoke and heat and were then trapped, with no fire escapes nearby. A musician told him the fire appeared to start at or near a circuit breaker, per the AP, before "things happened very quickly," with the power cutting out and blasts reported inside. Bangkok's governor said flammable decor may have fueled the blaze; he also pointed to early reports that tables selling goods may have blocked fire exits, though he stressed those claims must be confirmed by forensic investigators. Some people remain unaccounted for.