Chatuchak chief avoids licence questions after fire

Police investigating the 12 July fire at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao took three serving staff back to the Bangkok venue on 16 July to reconstruct events and gather evidence. The Chatuchak district director, Prasat Phosrimart, said he had already given a full statement to investigators but declined to discuss the premises' licensing.

Officers from Phahonyothin Police Station entered the site with one male and two female servers, carrying interview documents as part of the evidence-gathering process.

One employee told reporters that they had been working outside the building on the day of the fire and had noticed nothing unusual until smoke began pouring from inside. The staff member also said they had no personal closeness with the venue's owner.

Building work and permits under review

Chatuchak district officials and engineering staff were also at the scene, examining the building's structure, any alterations and all relevant permits under legal procedures.

Mr Prasat visited the site after the inspection. Asked whether he had spoken to police, he said he had provided all the information required.

When reporters questioned the issuing of permits, he walked away from the media and said only that procedures had been followed. Asked whether Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao had sought a licence as an entertainment venue or a restaurant, he said an entertainment-venue licence could not be issued.

He said opening until 2am was a matter for another agency, not the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). Mr Prasat said district officials had inspected the premises periodically, with the latest visit on 24 April, but did not say what that inspection concerned. He said an official document would be issued later before leaving the scene by car.

Nightspots Temporarily Shut As BMA Mounts Inspections

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) also on July 16, temporarily closed three nightspots that did not meet safety standards with rigorous inspections being mounted across the city’s 50 districts.

A pub in Rama 1 road area, Pathumwan district, was ordered to temporarily cease operation after being found to be operating illegally as a club with live music, lighting, and sound without a licence. There were no fire exit signs and emergency exits were obstructed.

An entertainment venue with music performance and karaoke in Charansanitwong area of Bangkok Noi district was ordered to immediately cease operation after it was discovered that it was running without a proper permit.

An entertainment venue in the Phetchaburi area of Ratchathewi district was suspended after the operator continued to illegally run it despite previous warnings and advisories.

Aid payments prompt public debate

Separately, the BMA has set out financial assistance for people affected by the fire. Injured victims needing hospital treatment can receive up to 4,000 baht, while those who escaped without injuries may receive up to 2,000 baht. Families of those who died can receive 29,700 baht each.

An additional 2,300 baht payment is available to injured survivors. The scheme also covers relatives, residents, business operators, street vendors and others who suffered injury or property damage because of the fire.

Anyone affected would also need to follow the relevant claims process and retain evidence of medical costs or losses.

The Rights and Liberties Protection Department said families of those who died could receive up to 300,000 baht if investigators find the deaths resulted from criminal offences by people responsible for operating the venue. Compensation from the operators has not yet been determined, while police continue their investigation and the major shareholder remains in critical condition in hospital.

The use of public funds has divided online opinion. Some users said nightclub operators should bear the cost, while others argued that victims should receive state help where safety standards and enforcement may have failed. Social media personality Ajarn Beer Khon Tuen Dham also criticised the programme and described entertainment venues as "places of ill repute that good people should avoid."

Picture courtesy of Naewna

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17 July 2026

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