Bangkok Bar Fire Victims Died From Toxic Gas Inhalation, Police Confirm, as Safety Probe Continues

(WS News) – Thai police said Thursday that victims of the deadly fire at a music bar in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district died from inhaling toxic gases rather than from burns, as investigators continue examining whether blocked exits and safety violations worsened the death toll.

Cause of Death Confirmed

Metropolitan Police Bureau officials said forensic testing detected carbon monoxide and cyanide in victims’ bodies, gases that prevent the body’s tissues from absorbing oxygen and can prove fatal within minutes. None of the victims died directly from flames, according to police, who said forensic examination of the scene has been completed while the broader investigation continues.

Investigators Focus on Safety Failures

The fire, which broke out shortly after midnight, killed at least 33 people and injured more than 70 others, with several still receiving intensive care. Investigators are examining possible electrical faults as the ignition source, alongside potential safety violations including unauthorized building modifications and blocked emergency exits. More than 100 witnesses have been questioned so far, and police say they are preparing to pursue charges related to negligence resulting in death and injury, along with unauthorized construction offenses.

A Familiar Pattern in Nightlife Venue Fires

Disaster-prevention experts note that high death tolls in bar and nightclub fires are often worsened by cluttered layouts and locked or obstructed emergency exits meant to deter unauthorized entry or theft, a pattern seen in past nightlife fires elsewhere in the world. No charges have been filed yet as the investigation continues.