Bangkok Bar Fire Survivor Recounts Tragic Losses

BANGKOK, Thailand (GNP): A musician who narrowly escaped a fire that tore through a Bangkok bar has described losing his girlfriend and three fellow band members in the tragedy, which killed 33 people and left 15 others in critical condition.

Athipat Wichan, the 32-year-old leader of Thai indie band Thotsakan, told BBC Thai that he was working on song material off stage when flames engulfed the venue, Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, and knocked out the power. He said he groped his way through darkness to find an exit, only to be met by fire as he reached the door, and believes he escaped with only moments to spare.

Among the dead were vocalist Nahathai Satjalert, who was also Athipat’s girlfriend, alongside vocalist Thitiwat Kaewkanha, keyboardist Pruttipong Phutmon, and drummer Nathaphat Thammanitha. Speaking at Nahathai’s funeral as mourners grieved around him, Athipat expressed deep remorse over having brought her into the band and said he would continue loving her.

The band leader sustained injuries to his head and arms in the fire. He noted that drummer Nathaphat had joined the group only a month earlier, while keyboardist Pruttipong had been planning to leave. Vocalist Thitiwat had reportedly been looking forward to marking Athipat’s birthday just before the tragedy struck.

Athipat founded Thotsakan at age 20, naming the band after a antagonist figure from the Thai literary epic Ramakien. After a hiatus during which he briefly joined another act, he relaunched the band in what he described as its “phase two,” bringing on most of the members present during Monday’s fire.

Guitarist Chanate Trasing, another survivor, said he initially mistook the rising smoke for stage effects before recognising the danger and fleeing. He recalled seeing keyboardist Pruttipong appear disoriented in the chaos moments before the fire overwhelmed the venue, and said he had just retrieved drummer Nathaphat’s body from the mortuary when he spoke to reporters.

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The blaze has renewed scrutiny of fire safety enforcement at entertainment venues across Thailand. Authorities are investigating whether negligence contributed to the disaster, with survivors reporting locked doors and inadequate emergency exit signage. Questions have also been raised over whether government agencies failed to properly enforce existing safety regulations.

Athipat said he hoped for stricter safety standards at performance venues going forward, adding that band members may now feel anxious performing given the events of the fire. He said Thotsakan would take time to grieve before working to regroup, while Chanate said he is reconsidering whether to continue performing given the risks, citing responsibilities to his family, including a young child.