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Central News(CNA, Seoul, 13th – comprehensive international report) A fire broke out at a bar in Bangkok around midnight today, resulting in at least 32 deaths and 73 injuries. Thai authorities have launched an investigation. This is the second major fire at a global entertainment venue this year, following the New Year's Day inferno at a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana that claimed 40 lives.Over the years, deadly fires at bars, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues have claimed hundreds of lives worldwide. In the early hours of New Year's Day, a fire erupted at a bar in Crans-Montana, a Swiss Alpine ski resort, killing around 40 people and injuring over 100. Most victims were young, including many teenagers. In 2013, a fire at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, southern Brazil, claimed over 200 lives.Experts suggest that the high casualties in the Bangkok bar fire may reflect common factors seen in past entertainment venue fires, including inadequate safety measures.According to the Associated Press, the fire rapidly spread along the ceiling, which was lined with flammable decorative materials, before reaching the main entrance. Local media reported that overcrowding, blocked evacuation routes, and panic may have hindered evacuation. Below are the key points compiled by the AP regarding the Bangkok bar fire.Videos uploaded online by witnesses show the blaze engulfing the Na Ladprao bar in Bangkok, with thick smoke pouring from the front entrance as people fled in panic. Photos and footage from the scene show investigators examining the fire-damaged building, with the most severe damage appearing to be on the ceiling. Most of the ceiling is charred black, while the floor and tables below are covered in ash and debris.Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that musicians at the scene reported smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage, followed by a power outage and explosion, after which thick smoke quickly filled the entire bar.Thai officials said investigators will examine the ceiling materials and whether emergency exits were blocked, hindering evacuation. A photo from February posted online shows what appears to be decorative plastic plants on the ceiling above the stage.Lee Young Ju, a fire safety professor at Kyungil University in South Korea, pointed out that the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault—possibly in audio equipment, lighting, or wiring—that ignited and rapidly spread across the entire ceiling.Kittharath Punpetch, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, said that in addition to checking for flammable materials and how the overhead wiring was installed, police are also investigating whether gas cylinders were stored in the kitchen and whether they intensified the fire.Huang Xinyan, a professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said video footage from the fire scene shows the bar contained combustible foam materials, lacked an automatic sprinkler system, and had narrow exits that may have hindered evacuation.He added that the plastic decorations on the ceiling may have been combined with flammable soundproofing foam, potentially accelerating the rapid spread of the fire.Huang Xinyan also said the Bangkok bar fire may resemble the New Year's Day fire at the Swiss ski resort bar, noting that such venues often contain large amounts of flammable soundproofing materials and are excessively crowded—factors that contribute to mass casualties.Lee Young Ju from Kyungil University noted that entertainment venue fires often result in heavy casualties because large crowds are packed into relatively small spaces, making rapid evacuation difficult.He said such venues often lack sufficient entrances and exits, and most patrons are only familiar with the main entrance they used to enter. Additionally, loud music and alcohol consumption may reduce alertness, slowing reactions during emergencies.Another professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Jiang Liming, pointed out that bars typically lack large glass windows, and during a fire, exits may become blocked by panicked crowds.Jiang Liming said: 'Once a fire spreads rapidly, high population density combined with fast-spreading smoke can lead to mass casualties.'Kong Ha-song, a disaster prevention professor at Woosuk University in South Korea, noted that fatalities in bar and nightclub fires often escalate because these venues can resemble 'mazes,' with beer crates, tables, and other obstacles blocking corridors and escape routes. Emergency exits are sometimes locked to prevent intruders or theft.Kittharath Punpetch said the single-story bar had four exits, but police are investigating whether the two rear exits were blocked or unusable. Most of the victims were found at an exit near the restrooms, which was obstructed by a table. Another exit near the kitchen had a damaged sign and a detached door handle. (Translation: Liu Shuqin) 1150713