Survivor Recounts Escape from Ladprao Bar Fire

An injured survivor of the Ladprao beer bar fire filed a report with investigators on July 15 to provide additional details for the ongoing case. The man said he arrived at the venue around 10:30 p.m. and was seated near the front stage when, shortly before midnight, he noticed white smoke billowing from the ceiling. He initially dismissed it as a stage effect, thinking it coincided with the music performance. Moments later, he saw sparks and smelled burning, prompting him to rush toward the rear exit near the parking lot. During his escape, panicked tourists grabbed his leg, but he managed to break free and reach safety. The survivor confirmed he never heard a fire alarm but heard people inside shouting "fire," and he did not see the sprinkler system activate. Two security guards with flashlights helped direct evacuees toward the rear exit where he emerged. He said this was his first visit to the venue, so he had not noted the fire exits. He came with four friends, one of whom—Sittipong Chaiyo—died in the fire. He sustained injuries to his forehead and both ears and received treatment under social security insurance at Petchhaboon Hospital. Investigators held a progress meeting this morning on the case, having interviewed 52 people by July 14, including one business owner, 16 staff members, 33 relatives and injured persons, and two officials at the scene. Today, investigators will separately question building and electrical system experts and interview injured survivors still hospitalized. They are also accelerating analysis of footage from 16 closed-circuit cameras captured before and during the fire, using recovered server data.