Bangkok: The Commissioner General of Police inspected the source of the fire at the brewery in the Lat Phrao area, ordering expedited assistance for the injured and the identification of the deceased. Today, Police General Kittiratt Phanphet, the Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police, along with Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, the Commissioner General of the Metropolitan Police, led police officers to inspect the scene of the fire inside an entertainment venue in the Lat Phrao area. They revealed that all the bodies of the deceased are currently at the Forensic Science Institute, Police Hospital, awaiting identification. They have instructed that all channels for receiving notification of the identities of the deceased's relatives be opened, including at the coordination center at the scene near the MRT station, Phaholyothin Police Station, and the Royal Thai Police Headquarters operations center. Regarding the injured, coordination has been made with the Erawan Center and various hospitals to monitor their condition and handle their insurance claims.
According to Thai News Agency, as for the owner of the establishment, they are currently in the ICU with serious injuries, but police are coordinating with doctors to assess when they will be able to give a statement. Investigators have been instructed to separate the questioning groups into owners, company partners, employees, cooks, managers, and interior decorators/renovators in order to expedite the investigation and uncover the facts.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat said that an inspection of the interior of the building revealed it to be a single-story, rectangular structure. The front, facing Ladprao Road, had only two entrances/exits, while the back had two more. A third door led to the men's and women's restrooms, where a large number of bodies were found clustered. This was likely due to a power outage during the incident, which may have caused panic, leading victims to run into the restrooms seeking an exit or water, but they did not use this exit.
Police are urgently investigating whether the door was locked with a double bolt or a doorknob. If it is found to be locked in a way that renders it unusable, it will be considered an act of negligence. As for the fourth door, which connects to the kitchen, the heat from the flames has melted the sign and directional lights. In addition, the door handle and doorknob are missing, and it needs to be investigated whether this was due to damage or pre-existing conditions. Furthermore, the hallway leading to the kitchen door, which is only a little over a meter wide, is obstructed by lockers and shelves, narrowing the passageway to just one person, reflecting a lack of caution in the placement of items in case of an emergency.
Regarding the cause and origin of the fire, initial investigations are focusing on the area above the music stage, where modifications related to the sound system and aesthetics had been made. Forensic officers have already collected some crucial evidence and are currently examining whether the decorative materials used to control sound quality are flammable and easily ignited. This could clearly indicate a lack of caution and disregard for the safety of the audience.
Furthermore, Pol. Gen. Kittirat ordered Metropolitan Police Division 2 and Phaholyothin Police Station to jointly form a working group to investigate. They will gather forensic evidence from the Forensic Science Division and forensic pathologists, as well as information from additional witness statements from rescue workers regarding the condition of the locked door, to be compiled and reported urgently at the meeting. He emphasized that the case will primarily be pursued criminally on charges of negligence. Regarding unauthorized or irregular building additions, relevant agencies responsible for blueprint approval and building modifications will be contacted to take legal action. Concerning the refusal to admit patients, no report has been received yet, and it is confirmed that all hospitals have cooperated well in admitting patients following this incident.