By: Leo Zou

In the Chonburi Province, on the east side of Thailand, a fire went ablaze in a packed music bar on Friday morning while people were enjoying live music.

The fire spread rapidly and killed 14, 10 men and 4 women, and injured 40 people, according to the Bangkok Post. The pub opened about a month ago and was popular with young locals.

Pol Col Wuttipong Somjai, the Phlu Ta Luang police chief, stated that all the victims were most likely Thai nationals. The police said that they were investigating the cause of the great fire. According to the New York Times, it was built illegally, without a license to build entertainment venues and a restaurant in the nightspot.

Witnesses of the fire noted that the fire seemed to materialize on the ceiling, near the stage, before hearing explosions. In addition, some news outlets reported that a flammable soundproofing material may have fueled the fire.

A witness who said her name was Nana said, “I saw flames above the stage, on the right side. The singer onstage saw it too at about the same time, and he shouted ‘Fire!’ and threw the mic at it.” She added, “I saw a lot of the pub’s bouncers covered in flames inside.”

Later, after the fire died down, photos showed a scorched stage and sound equipment, along with ashes, water, and what used to be tables and stools tattered across the ground.

The deadly fire was a blow to Thailand as it tries to restore its tourism business after it was battered by the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic.

Sources: The New York Times, Bangkok Post