Fire breaks out at a pub in Bangkok, killing at least 27 people, officials say

A huge fire swept through a pub in Bangkok early Monday morning, killing at least 27 people before firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control, officials said. The prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, confirmed the death toll at the scene and said several injured people had been taken to hospital. Rescuers reported the fire was discovered around midnight, and videos shared by emergency services showed flames roaring from the front of the Na Ladprao pub in the northern part of the Thai capital as people tried to flee through heavy smoke. Photos from the aftermath showed charred tables and chairs and damage inside the pub. Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation. The prime minister reported that a musician performing at the pub told him he saw smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out, followed by an explosion and quickly worsening conditions. Many victims were reportedly found in areas including the restrooms at the back of the pub. Firefighters spent about half an hour to control the blaze. The incident echoes other fatal fire disasters in Thailand in recent years.