A Bangkok Music Bar Fire: What Happened and Who Was Hurt

A Sad Fire at a Music Bar

Imagine you are at a cozy music bar enjoying live songs. Suddenly, a fast-moving fire breaks out. That is what happened this week in Bangkok, Thailand.

• A flash fire (a fire that starts suddenly and spreads very fast) broke out at a music bar called Rong Beer Na Ladprao in northern Bangkok.
• The fire happened on Sunday night.
• At least 33 people lost their lives.
• Dozens more were hurt. 17 people were in the hospital in very serious condition.
• Most victims died from smoke inhalation (breathing in too much smoke). A few died from burn injuries.

Important Point: The fire killed more than 30 people and badly injured many others. Most died by breathing smoke, not from flames.

The Band Called Totsakan

A band named Totsakan was playing when the fire started. They were like the house band (the regular band) at the bar.

• The band had 6 core members.
• 4 of those 6 members died because of the fire.
• They played happy, foot-tapping "good-time roots music" every Sunday. This style mixes traditional rural Thai beats with modern instruments.

A Sister’s Kind Words

The keyboard player was named Preutthipong Pudmon (nickname "Kwang"). His sister, Chanyanuch Pudmon, spoke gently about him.

• She picked up his body from Bangkok’s Institute of Forensic Science (a place that studies bodies after death).
• She said: "If I can be his representative, I think he would say he doesn’t want to see everyone sad and cry."
• She asked people to remember his smile on stage playing music he loved, not the sad way he looked after the fire.

How the Fire May Have Started

No one knows exactly what caused the fire yet. Police and officials are still investigating (looking carefully to find answers).

They are checking:

• If the ceiling had flammable soundproofing foam (soft foam used to block noise that catches fire easily).
• If the exit doors were open and easy to reach.
• If the bar was legally registered (allowed by law to operate).

Band members said they saw a spark from a circuit breaker (a safety switch for electricity). The fire then raced across the ceiling. People ran to the few small exits in total darkness.

Important Point: The cause is still unknown. Possible problems include easy-to-burn ceiling foam, blocked exits, and unclear legal status.

Stories From the Band and Survivors

The band’s leader and singer is Atipat Wijan (nickname "Ice").

• Ice said the bass player called him to say Nahatai Sajjalert (lead female singer, nickname "Breeze," and Ice’s girlfriend) was getting CPR behind the building.
• Ice tried to help but she could not be saved. He said her body looked peacefully asleep, not burned.
• Keyboardist Kwang never got out.
• Drummer Nattapat Thamnita (nickname "Biw") was taken out badly hurt but also died.
• A fourth singer, Thitiwat Kaewkanha (nickname "Din"), was found in hospital with burns over 80% of his body and died on Wednesday.

A survivor named Natthaphong Lakhorn was at the bar with friends.

• He saw white smoke from the stage and thought it was a cool effect before realizing it was fire.
• The power went out and he ran. One of his relatives died.
• He escaped through a back door near bathrooms where a guard helped with a flashlight.
• He did not hear a fire alarm.

Another person, Kanticha Singkhon, lost her mother.

• She went to the police to get her mom’s handbag.
• Now she must care for her younger brother.
• She said the bar owners should contact families because victims came from far away.
• A lawyer for the bar said families would first get 10,000 baht (about $300), but Kanticha said that was not enough for a funeral and no one had contacted her.

What Happened Next

On Wednesday, families and survivors visited a police station to:

1. Ask for money to cover losses (compensation).
2. Collect personal belongings.
3. Tell what they saw (give testimony).

Important Point: Victims’ families say the first compensation offered is too small, and some feel ignored by the bar owners.

Summary

A sudden fire at a Bangkok music bar killed at least 33 people, including four members of the band Totsakan. Most died from smoke. The cause is still being investigated, with possible issues like flammable ceiling foam and locked exits. Families are grieving and asking for fair help from the bar’s owners.

FAQ

What is a flash fire?
A flash fire is a fire that begins suddenly and spreads very quickly, often in a small space like a bar.

Why did so many people die?
Officials say most died from breathing smoke. The fire spread fast, lights went out, and exits were few and narrow.

Who were the Totsakan band?
They were the regular Sunday band at the bar. Four of their six main members died in the fire.

Are the bar owners helping families?
A lawyer said families would get about $300 at first, but some families say it is not enough and no one has contacted them.

What is being investigated?
Officials are checking the ceiling foam, exit doors, and whether the bar was legally allowed to be open.