分类： society

BANGKOK – A catastrophic overnight blaze that ranks as Thailand’s capital’s deadliest fire in nearly two decades has ripped through a single-story music venue in northern Bangkok, leaving at least 27 people dead and 25 others in critical condition as of Monday morning.

The fire erupted at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar shortly before midnight on Sunday, with dramatic eyewitness and aftermath photos capturing patrons fleeing the building as bright orange flames burst through the roof and thick, acrid black smoke billowed into the night sky. Scattered abandoned shoes left by rushing evacuees litter the ground outside the venue, a haunting marker of the chaos that unfolded during the escape.

Firefighters took roughly 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control, and by dawn on Monday, the entire site had been cordoned off to allow dozens of forensic investigators to sift through charred rubble for evidence to pinpoint the fire’s origin. The building’s street-facing windows were blown completely out by the force of the blaze, and debris including burned-out speakers, televisions, and a warped electric guitar covered the surrounding sidewalk. Through the shattered glass, onlookers could see gutted interiors, where blackened tables still held intact empty beer bottles amid the destruction.

Thailand’s national police chief Kittharath Punpetch, who toured the disaster site on Monday morning, told reporters that most victims were found trapped in windowless bathrooms near one of the venue’s rear exits. It appears many people fled to these small spaces to escape flames spreading through the main hall, but were never able to exit the building. Multiple obstacles likely blocked access to usable escape routes, he explained: a temporary candy sales table set up in the main hall blocked one corridor, total darkness after the fire cut power left many unable to navigate, and shelving units and employee lockers narrowed access to a second exit near the bar’s kitchen. Kittharath added that investigators have found preliminary indications some exit doors may have been locked at the time of the fire.

Investigators are currently focusing their examination on the ceiling structure above the venue’s performance stage, where decorative materials were installed. Authorities will conduct testing to determine if those decorations were made from flammable materials, and will also inspect the condition and installation of electrical wiring running through the ceiling. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters that a musician who was performing at the bar when the fire started reported seeing smoke emanate from a circuit breaker near the stage moments before the power cut out. Shortly after the outage, an explosion was heard, and thick toxic smoke rapidly filled the entire venue.

Official data from Bangkok’s Erawan emergency services center puts the total number of injured at 73, 25 of whom remain in critical care. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt noted that nearly all fatalities were caused by smoke inhalation, rather than direct burns. Authorities are currently working to identify all victims, as many were not carrying official identification when the fire broke out.

On Monday morning, a group of Buddhist monks traveled to the site to lead prayers for the victims, while local medical workers distributed face masks to nearby residents and onlookers to protect against toxic residual fumes from the burned building. A temporary registration point has been set up outside the cordon to collect information from family members arriving to search for missing loved ones.

Local singer Sukanya Wongwongwai told reporters she had been performing at a separate venue nearby when she heard news of the fire, and rushed to the scene after learning several of her bandmates were playing a set at Rong Beer Na Ladprao. One of her bandmates has been confirmed dead, three are hospitalized, and one remains unaccounted for as of Monday afternoon. “From what I heard from people who were inside, when the fire started everything went dark. The power was out and there was smoke everywhere, so they couldn’t locate other people,” she said.

The tragedy marks the deadliest fire in Bangkok since a 2009 New Year’s Eve blaze at the capital’s Santika nightclub that killed 66 people and injured more than 200, which was traced to an indoor fireworks display. In 2022, another fire at a music bar in eastern Thailand killed 14 people, reigniting public calls for stricter safety inspections of entertainment venues across the country.

On a Sunday night in Bangkok’s bustling Chatuchak district, the indie band Thotsakan was mid-performance at a packed local favorite bar, Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, when disaster struck. It began with a small wisp of smoke spotted behind the keyboardist by the band’s manager, Ice Athipat Wijarn, who was waiting offstage. Before anyone could react, keyboardist Kwang shouted for the crowd to evacuate, and a raging inferno ripped through the venue in mere seconds.

Trapped in thick, blinding smoke as he scrambled for the exit, Ice fumbled blindly for the door before an explosion hurled him out of the building, leaving him injured but alive. By Monday, official confirmed the devastating toll of the blaze: at least 27 people dead and dozens more injured, with more than 60 current patients receiving hospital care, eight in critical condition. Among the fatalities are three members of Thotsakan: Kwang, female vocalist Breeze, and drummer Bew, a bandmate, Patchara Songphatkaew, confirmed in a public Facebook post. The location of another male vocalist, Din, remains unknown as of press time, with Patchara writing, “Maybe a miracle will happen. Let’s pray things turn out well.”

Only lead singer Tik Chaichana escaped unharmed, a devastating stroke of luck that came from him stepping away to use the washroom just moments before the fire ignited. Viral online footage captured Tik sobbing as he fled the burning building, and he later took to Facebook to update worried supporters: “I’m safe, thank you everyone for your concern. But my phone and all my belongings burned… My mind is truly not okay right now.”

Local residents who witnessed the aftermath described being shaken by the unprecedented scale of the disaster. Titi Liewcha, who lives directly across the street from the bar, recalled, “I saw firefighters trying to extinguish the flames almost everywhere. I saw ambulances and rescue vehicles everywhere. I didn’t know what to do. I just sat there stunned for a while.” Neighbors Titi and Sirinya told reporters they initially feared the fire would spread to their adjacent homes, with Sirinya noting, “This is the first time I’ve seen such a major fire.”

Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control roughly 30 minutes after arriving on scene, but the damage was already done. Multiple people who had visited the venue in the past told reporters they had long worried about safety hazards at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao. Sirinya, who had visited once before, described the space as “very dark, with a low ceiling” and added, “The fire escape routes are not clear.” Phatsara Khamloet, who visited in May, echoed these concerns, calling the interior dark and “maze-like,” with a winding path to the washroom and poorly marked exits. “The moment I stepped in, my first feeling was, ‘Whoa, if there’s a fire, how would we even get out?’” she said.

Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt told reporters Monday that preliminary observations suggest flammable ceiling decorations likely accelerated the fire’s rapid spread. He also added that multiple victims were found unconscious near the venue’s emergency exit, indicating the exit may have been blocked, though a full official investigation is still underway to confirm the cause and contributing factors. So far, only one foreign national, a Laotian citizen, has been identified among the deceased.

In the wake of the tragedy, the devastating loss of life has amplified longstanding demands for Thai authorities to tighten fire safety regulations, mandate regular safety inspections for entertainment and nightlife venues, and require comprehensive emergency training for venue staff. A local driver who works near the bar called for mandatory regular fire drills to ensure staff can guide guests to safety quickly, as well as design changes to increase exit width to speed up evacuations. “I feel sorry for the people who died. I feel sorry for them because they probably had no idea what was happening,” he said. Nearby resident Sirinya echoed these concerns, noting that the unsafe conditions that led to this disaster are common across hundreds of similar venues in the area, warning that without reform, another catastrophic tragedy is likely to occur.

SINGAPORE – A high-profile court case against a 19-year-old French teenager accused of posting a controversial viral prank video has been adjourned until July 30, after prosecutors requested additional time to clarify whether a conviction would cost the young man his right to continue studying in the city-state.

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien was scheduled to enter a guilty plea on two charges — mischief and public nuisance — stemming from an incident that dates back to March 12. According to official charges, the teen filmed himself licking an unused straw from a public juice vending machine located inside a Singaporean shopping mall before placing the straw back into the machine’s dispenser. He later shared the clip to social media, where it spread rapidly across regional and global platforms, drawing widespread public backlash. He was formally charged with the offenses on April 24.

Since being released on bail, Maximilien has remained in Singapore and continued attending classes at a local business school. Prosecutors confirmed they need extra time to confirm whether a criminal conviction on the current charges would automatically trigger the revocation of his student pass, a key detail that has not yet been finalized by immigration authorities.

The company that operates the vending machine, IJooz, filed a formal police report immediately after the incident came to light. In response to the prank, the business carried out full sanitization of the affected dispenser and replaced all 500 unused straws held in the machine to eliminate public health risks. Looking ahead, IJooz has announced plans to roll out permanent upgrades to all of its vending machines across the country: the new measures will include individually wrapped straws and secured compartments that only unlock once a customer completes a purchase, preventing unauthorized tampering.

In Singapore, a small, densely populated city-state famous for its strict regulation of public behavior and commitment to high levels of public cleanliness, penalties for the charges Maximilien faces are significant. A conviction for mischief can carry a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine, or both. The less severe charge of public nuisance carries a penalty of up to three months behind bars, a fine, or both. The country’s strict public health and behavior rules are well-documented, including longstanding limits on chewing gum sales and harsh penalties for littering, vandalism and other acts that threaten public order or hygiene.

A tragic maritime accident off the coast of southern Vietnam that claimed the lives of 15 Indian tourists last week is moving into the next phase this Monday, as the remains of the victims are being transported back to their home country for final arrangements.

The incident unfolded on a Saturday afternoon, shortly after the vessel departed Hon May Rut Ngoai, a small island located near Phu Quoc — Vietnam’s largest island and a top beach tourism destination. When the speedboat overturned in near-shore waters, it was carrying 32 Indian tourists and 4 local Vietnamese crew members, according to local Vietnamese authorities.

In the wake of the capsizing, 57-year-old boat captain Nguyen Hong Hai has been taken into investigation, with local state media reporting that he faces allegations of violating waterway transport safety regulations.

In a social media statement, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam confirmed that the flight carrying the victims’ remains departed Ho Chi Minh City and is scheduled to land in Mumbai by late Monday. Officials have already requested local state administrations to coordinate additional domestic travel of the remains to the victims’ home communities. Breakdown of the victims by state shows 10 hailed from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala.

The group was on an all-expense company retreat organized by Lava International, a Uttar Pradesh-based manufacturer of smartphones and consumer electronics. The outing included current employees, distribution partners and retail partners from across the country.

Sixteen survivors have already been discharged from local medical facilities and are on their way back to India, per previous updates from the Indian Embassy. One survivor, however, remains in critical condition: a 49-year-old man who suffered near-drowning. He was transferred on Monday to Ho Chi Minh City’s Cho Ray Hospital, Vietnam’s leading public specialized medical center, for advanced care. The patient sustained severe lung damage, alongside multiple physical injuries, brain bleeding, and post-traumatic shock, according to local Vietnamese outlet Vietnam News. Dr. Tran Thanh Linh, head of the hospital’s intensive care unit, told reporters Monday that the patient’s blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation levels have improved in recent hours, giving care teams cautious optimism.

One survivor, 44-year-old businessman Nirmal Kumar, recounted the sudden turn from leisure to disaster for the group. He told the Associated Press that the trip was just minutes old when an unexpected storm brought rough churning waters to the area. A large rogue wave slammed into the side of the speedboat, sending passengers into immediate panic. Kumar said the vessel rocked violently, becoming increasingly hard for the captain to control before it flipped over.

“People rushed from one side of the boat to the other, and then they started jumping,” Kumar said. “I also jumped into the water.” He added that rescue teams arrived on the scene within just five minutes, pulling him and other survivors out of the rough sea. The incident has left lasting psychological trauma for Kumar: one of the victims was his childhood friend, who joined the trip expecting a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. “I still can’t process that he is dead,” Kumar shared.

The capsizing took place roughly 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Phu Quoc, a coastal hotspot famous for its powdery white sand beaches and crystal clear blue waters that draws millions of domestic and international travelers each year. In recent years, India has emerged as one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing source markets for international tourism, with visitor numbers from the South Asian nation climbing steadily annually.

A sharp, unprecedented rise in harmful substance use across Israel has been documented by leading mental health researchers, linking the growing public health crisis to the cumulative psychological toll of ongoing military conflict in Gaza and escalating instability across the Middle East. Data published in Israeli outlet Haaretz, drawn from analysis by the Israeli Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, reveals that one in four Israelis now engage in harmful substance misuse — a figure that has more than doubled since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pre-pandemic, the national rate of problematic substance use sat at just 10% (one in 10 Israelis). That figure climbed to 14% (one in seven) during the height of global pandemic-related lockdowns and uncertainty, before spiking dramatically to 25% in the months following October 2023, when Israel launched its large-scale military campaign in Gaza in response to attacks led by Hamas.

The research breaks down the specific shifts in substance consumption: use of prescription sedatives has increased 250% compared to pre-conflict levels, while consumption of opiates and stimulants has nearly doubled. Rates of harmful alcohol and cannabis use have also ticked upward across all demographic groups. For Israelis living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) linked to ongoing conflict, the rate of problematic substance misuse now reaches 54.2%, highlighting the deep intersection of trauma and addiction in the current crisis.

Prof. Shauli Lev-Ran, founder of the Israeli Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, explained that repeated waves of national crisis have cemented harmful coping habits that formed during periods of extreme stress. “The more stress there is, the more people use,” Lev-Ran told Haaretz, adding a critical warning that these addictive patterns often persist long after periods of immediate crisis abate.

Firsthand accounts from people who use substances across the country paint a stark picture of how conflict has normalized drug use as a coping mechanism for daily uncertainty. Many report relying on ketamine, cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis, and prescription sedatives to navigate repeated missile alerts, attend funerals of conflict victims, cope with military mobilization of loved ones, and process a constant stream of violent death reporting.

One Israeli man described his drug use escalating in lockstep with the expansion of Israel’s regional military campaigns, explaining that substances helped him create emotional distance from “all the blood and death” dominating news cycles. Another account noted that mourners have used amphetamines to get through funerals held for conflict victims since October 2023. Other residents report using ketamine before entering bomb shelters to manage extreme anxiety, while working adults turn to stimulants to maintain productivity despite chronic sleeplessness and stress.

This rise in misuse is not limited to informal nightlife settings: interviewees described open substance use taking place in private homes, office workplaces, neighborhood bars, and public bomb shelters. Widespread access to encrypted messaging apps and anonymous digital payment platforms has also made it easier than ever for Israelis to obtain controlled substances, removing barriers that previously limited access.

Dr. Roy Zucker, a clinician working in drug harm reduction, notes that the changing nature of substance use has created new risks for public health: more than 80% of drug-related emergency department cases now involve polysubstance use, a dangerous mix of multiple different drugs that increases the risk of fatal overdose and severe medical complications compared to single-substance use.

The crisis also extends to Palestinian citizens of Israel, who face the compounded trauma of witnessing the destruction of Gaza while coping with growing systemic repression within Israel’s borders. Many Palestinian residents report turning to substances to cope after the trauma of seeing massacres of Palestinians in Gaza, with limited access to affordable or accessible mental health treatment leaving few alternative coping options. One Palestinian citizen described whole communities “falling apart” in the wake of the Gaza campaign, with substance use becoming a default for many struggling with unaddressed trauma.

Lev-Ran warned that without targeted intervention, the public health crisis will only deepen as long as conflict and permanent national alert continue. Prolonged cycles of violence, he explained, make it impossible for people to reset and return to normal daily life, as just one crisis begins to ease another attack, military mobilization, or regional escalation begins.

This reporting is from independent outlet Middle East Eye, which provides dedicated, unrivaled coverage of the Middle East and North Africa region.