More than 70 people were injured in the fire at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar, with 24 remaining in critical condition, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The blaze broke out late Sunday in northern Bangkok and took firefighters about 30 minutes to bring under control.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said most of the victims died from smoke inhalation. Emergency officials said dozens of survivors remained hospitalized as medical teams continued to treat those with severe injuries.

Police and forensic investigators spent Monday examining the single-story building, which was cordoned off while authorities searched for evidence. The venue’s windows had been blown out, and investigators inspected debris scattered throughout the premises as they worked to determine how the fire began.

The bar, which describes itself as a brewery or beer hall, says it can accommodate up to 600 customers. Authorities have not said how many people were inside when the fire started.

National Police Chief Kittharath Punpetch said most of the victims were found trapped in windowless bathrooms near one of the building’s rear exits, where they may have sought refuge from the flames.

He said investigators were examining whether access to the exit had been obstructed by a table placed in a hallway or whether darkness caused by the power outage prevented people from locating the escape route. He added that another exit near the kitchen may also have been partially blocked by shelving and lockers, while there were indications that some exit doors might have been locked.

Investigators are also focusing on the ceiling above the performance stage, where decorative materials were installed. Police are examining whether flammable materials were used in the interior and whether the building’s electrical wiring complied with safety standards.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said a musician performing at the venue told him smoke was seen emerging from a circuit breaker near the stage before the electricity failed. According to the musician’s account, an explosion followed, after which thick smoke rapidly filled the building.

Video shared on social media showed flames engulfing the structure as patrons fled through smoke-filled exits.

Buddhist monks visited the site on Monday to offer prayers for the victims, while health workers distributed face masks to protect people from lingering smoke. Authorities also established a registration center to help families locate relatives who had been inside the bar.

Singer Sukanya Wongwongwai said she rushed to the scene after learning several members of her band were performing at the venue. She said one band member died and three others were hospitalized. Another musician initially reported missing was later found receiving treatment in hospital.

The bar issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families and said it was cooperating fully with investigators. It added that the owner had suffered serious injuries and remained in intensive care.

Relatives gathered at Bangkok’s Institute of Forensic Medicine to identify those killed. Among them was Keo Oudone Poungpany, whose younger brother, a migrant worker from neighboring Laos employed at the bar, died in the fire. Poungpany said he had been outside the building when the blaze erupted and was unable to re-enter because of the intense heat.

The tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly entertainment venue fires in Thailand. Fourteen people were killed in a music bar fire in eastern Thailand in 2022, while a New Year’s Eve fire at Bangkok’s Santika nightclub in 2009 claimed 67 lives and injured more than 200 others.