The Police Hospital confirmed the latest fatalities, while emergency officials said dozens of survivors remain hospitalized following the blaze that tore through the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub shortly before midnight on Sunday.

The Erawan Emergency Medical Center said 30 people were still receiving treatment in hospitals across the Thai capital, including 15 patients in intensive care units. Authorities added that 44 injured people have been discharged after receiving medical care.

The fire swept through the single-story entertainment venue in Bangkok’s northern Chatuchak district, an area known for its busy commercial activity and nightlife. Witnesses described hearing an explosion before flames and thick smoke rapidly spread through the building, engulfing patrons inside.

Investigators believe the blaze was most likely triggered by an electrical short circuit involving a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit, although the exact cause has yet to be officially confirmed.

Police are examining whether negligence played a role in the incident, including whether emergency exits were blocked or otherwise unusable during the evacuation. The findings could determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

The Thai government has pledged to tighten safety oversight of entertainment venues following the tragedy. Officials said authorities will increase random inspections to ensure emergency exits remain unobstructed and that bars, pubs and similar establishments comply with fire safety regulations.

Authorities noted that the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub had undergone an official inspection in April, months before the fire.

Located at a busy intersection near train stations and two shopping malls, the venue is part of a cluster of popular establishments that attract large weekend crowds with live music, food, drinks and televised sporting events.

Fire safety experts believe combustible acoustic materials and decorative elements installed around the stage may have ignited almost instantly after the initial fire, producing intense heat, dense smoke and toxic fumes that quickly trapped customers inside.

The incident has renewed concerns about longstanding fire safety shortcomings in Thailand’s entertainment sector. Experts have repeatedly warned about the widespread use of flammable decorative materials, overcrowded venues and inaccessible emergency exits, issues that have featured in previous fatal fires.

Those concerns were highlighted after a major nightclub fire in Bangkok in 2009 that killed at least 65 people, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of building and fire safety standards.

As investigators continue gathering evidence, authorities remain focused on treating the injured while determining whether failures in safety measures contributed to the scale of the disaster.