A fire on the evening of July 12, 2026, at the Rong Beer Na Lad Phrao restaurant and bar in Bangkok killed 37 people, most from smoke inhalation, officials said [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The blaze was traced to an electrical short circuit in the ceiling.
Police have announced plans to charge the bar owner, Suvicha Salaibatr, with six offences including negligence causing death, serious injury, harm, fire, criminal mischief, and operating an entertainment venue without a license [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Police spokesperson Isara Na Phatthalung said, "We issued an arrest warrant last week against him on six charges including negligence causing death, serious injury, harm and fire, as well as criminal mischief and running an entertainment venue without a licence" [1].
Suvicha was hospitalized and recently discharged from intensive care, but doctors have not yet allowed police to formally read the charges to him. Isara added, "He has left the intensive care unit but the doctor has not yet allowed police to read the charges to him. Police hope to charge him as the sole suspect in the next few days" [3]. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for the negligence charge alone.
Concerns have existed for years over Thailand’s health and safety standards in nightlife venues. A prior incident at Bangkok's Santika nightclub during the 2009 New Year celebrations killed 67 people and injured over 200 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Police issued the arrest warrant against Suvicha about a week ago and publicly confirmed the charges today, August 10. Authorities expect to complete formal charges within days [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
