PM Awaits Police Inquiry Into Ladprao Beer Hall Fire
A beer hall fire in Bangkok's Ladprao area killed 27 people and injured 34, with Prime Minister Anutin visiting the scene and ordering police to investigate claims that fire exits were locked.
On July 13, 2569, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Interior Minister visited the scene of the Ladprao beer hall fire alongside Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. The PM reported that survivors were rescued and transferred to hospitals, with initial casualty figures at 34 injured. He assured families that medical treatment would be provided under state welfare law and existing regulations.
When asked about claims that fire exits were locked to prevent customers from leaving without paying, Anutin deferred to the National Police Office and forensic teams conducting the investigation. He stated he did not wish to prejudge the matter, though he personally observed multiple structural blind spots in the venue that would make escape difficult in the event of a fire. The establishment operated under a restaurant license permitting live music until midnight, with the fire occurring around 5 p.m.
The PM clarified that the venue was licensed as a restaurant rather than an entertainment venue, which is why it could operate in that location—outside designated entertainment zones. He acknowledged that similar establishments throughout Bangkok may be using food service licenses while operating as semi-bars, and suggested that police and local officials must investigate inspection records and compliance procedures going forward.
Regarding compensation, Anutin confirmed that injured and sick persons would receive full care, and that various government funds would assist bereaved families. The official death toll was updated to 27, with critical cases requiring intensive medical treatment.
