The band enjoying when a Bangkok bar caught fireplace mourns its members among the many 33 lifeless

BANGKOK — Victims of this week’s flash fireplace at a Bangkok music bar that took greater than 30 lives included 4 of the six core members of the band enjoying when the blaze broke out.

The destiny of the Totsakan band has been a key focus in Thailand’s protection of the blaze, and as residents expressed their disappointment, confusion, outrage and calls for for compensation on Wednesday, the sister of the group’s late keyboard participant struck a selected word of grace.

“If I can be his representative, I think he would say he doesn’t want to see everyone sad and cry,” stated Chanyanuch Pudmon, the sister of keyboard participant Preutthipong Pudmon, as she and different relations retrieved his physique from Bangkok’s Institute of Forensic Science. “He would not want everyone to see him as he is now, but please remember his smile on stage, playing music that he loves.”

The hearth that broke out Sunday evening killed at the very least 33 individuals and injured dozens, with 17 hospitalized in essential situation, Erawan emergency providers stated. Wiroon Supasingsiripreecha, chief of the forensic institute, advised reporters Wednesday that many of the victims died from smoke inhalation, whereas just a few died from burn accidents.

What set off the blaze on the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar in northern Bangkok and why it prompted so many casualties is beneath investigation. Authorities are taking a look at whether or not the venue’s ceiling had particularly flammable soundproofing foam, whether or not its exits had been accessible and unlocked and whether or not the venue was legally registered.

The band performed good-time music each Sunday

Totsakan was a home band on the bar, and each Sunday they performed the form of good-time roots music that’s fashionable particularly in rural areas the place conventional beats are performed on trendy devices.

A relative of a sufferer in a music bar fireplace sits close to the coffin containing the sufferer’s physique inside a automobile as it’s transferred from a police hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Sakchai Lalit/AP

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Sakchai Lalit/AP

The band’s members had been among the many first to spy a spark from a circuit breaker that will have set off the blaze that roared throughout the ceiling, which specialists suspect was coated with extremely flamable materials. Folks rushed for the few and slender exits in what they stated was whole darkness.

The chaos was such that even after the blaze was introduced beneath management by firefighters and the injured taken to hospitals, it was unclear who had survived and who had perished. Nevertheless for the band’s chief and singer, Atipat Wijan — nickname “Ice” — a giant blow got here immediately.

In an interview with Thai TV Channel 3 simply hours after the flames had been extinguished, he recalled how the band’s bass participant referred to as him to inform him that Nahatai Sajjalert, the lead feminine singer nicknamed “Breeze″ — who was also his girlfriend — was undergoing CPR in back of the still-smoldering building.

Ice said he tried helping the EMS team resuscitate her, but she could not be revived.

“She wasn’t burned in any respect. Her physique was utterly intact. She simply appeared like she was peacefully asleep,” he recalled.

Ice said it was originally believed that keyboardist Preutthipong — nickname “Kwang” — had been found and hospitalized, but that was a misunderstanding. He never made it out of the bar. Nattapat Thamnita, or “Biw,” the band’s drummer, was evacuated in critical condition, but also did not survive.

A fourth band member died Wednesday

Misery extended to Wednesday when the band announced that its other male singer, Thitiwat Kaewkanha, had died in hospital. He was initially feared dead, but had then turned up hospitalized after a day of frantic searching. According to Thai Rath, Thailand’s most popular newspaper, Thitiwat, whose nickname is “Din,” had burns over 80% of his body.

Other survivors and family members of victims of the fire visited a police station on Wednesday to seek compensation, gather belongings and give their testimony.

Natthaphong Lakhorn, 26, was at the beer hall on the night of the fire with four companions. He was sitting near the stage when the fire broke out. He recounted seeing white smoke coming from the stage, which he at first thought was an effect from dry ice before realizing it was the start of a fire.

“When the fire broke, I just ran, and then all power went out,” stated Natthaphong, who stated that one among his companions, a relative, died within the fireplace. “It was so hectic.”

Natthaphong stated he escaped by way of the again door of the bar close to the loos and that there was a safety guard there who was utilizing a flashlight to guide individuals out, contradicting reviews from police that the door was not used. He stated he didn’t recall listening to a fireplace alarm.

Bandages coated each of Natthaphong’s ears and a part of his brow. Earlier than registering with the police, he stated that he plans to hunt compensation for his accidents.

Kanticha Singkhon, 25, was on the police station to select up a purse and different private belongings of her mom, who died within the fireplace. Along with her mom gone, Kanticha stated she is now chargeable for her youthful brother. She stated she wished the bar house owners to be those who attain out to the sufferer’s households “because they would be going back to their hometowns by now. They won’t have time because each victim came from far away,” she stated.

A lawyer representing the bar house owners advised native media that survivors and relations will initially obtain 10,000 baht (roughly $300) in compensation.

“It’s not enough money for a funeral — I had to take a loan to arrange my mom’s funeral,” Kanticha stated. “I have not had any financial arrangements, and no one has contacted me.”