The blaze tore through the Mountain B pub in Sattahip district early Friday, trapping patrons in a chaotic scramble as the building’s single open exit became a bottleneck. By the time emergency crews brought the inferno under control, 27 people were dead, and dozens more remained hospitalized with severe burns.
Witnesses described a scene of pure panic. The fire ignited around 1:00 a.m. while a live band played, sending a wall of thick, black smoke through the venue. Because the pub’s walls were lined with flammable soundproofing foam, the flames spread with lethal speed, engulfing the interior in seconds.
“I saw the fire start near the DJ booth and it just exploded,” one survivor told local responders. “People were pushing, screaming, and trampling each other to get to the front door.”
Investigators now point to a failure of basic safety protocols. Police confirmed the venue had only one functional exit at the time of the incident, despite local regulations requiring at least two. The building’s owner, Pongsiri Panprasong, faces charges of negligence causing death, as authorities examine whether the pub was operating without a proper license or had bypassed fire safety inspections.
The high death toll—which includes young adults and students—has reignited long-standing debates about the enforcement of fire codes in Thailand’s nightlife sector. While the government has pledged to conduct nationwide inspections, critics argue that corruption often allows owners to skirt safety laws until a tragedy forces accountability.
For the families of the 27 victims, the investigation offers little comfort. As the site remains cordoned off for forensic analysis, the charred shell of the Mountain B stands as a stark reminder of the cost of cutting corners.
“We lost a generation of local youth in that room,” said a provincial official at the scene. “Rules are written in ink, but they are paid for in blood.”
