The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
The blaze ripped through Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a popular live music venue in the capital's northern Chatuchak district, shortly before midnight on Sunday. It is now one of Thailand's deadliest fires in recent years.
Health officials said 30 people remain in hospitals across Bangkok, including 15 in intensive care. Another 44 people have been discharged after receiving treatment.
Authorities believe the fire was most likely caused by an electrical short circuit in a ceiling-mounted air conditioner.
Police are now investigating whether possible negligence played a role in the disaster. Investigators are examining whether emergency exits were blocked or otherwise unusable when the fire broke out.
The Thai government has pledged to tighten safety rules for entertainment venues following the tragedy. Officials said they will introduce random inspections to ensure fire exits remain clear and venues comply with fire safety regulations. The pub had passed an inspection in April.
Fire safety experts believe combustible materials used to decorate the stage for better acoustics may have ignited almost instantly, producing intense heat, thick smoke and toxic fumes.
Those conditions are thought to have trapped many people inside, making escape difficult as the fire spread rapidly.
People who were inside and around the venue described a terrifying scene as an explosion was followed by a fast-moving burst of fire and thick smoke that swept through the single-storey pub.
The venue sits at a busy intersection near train stations and two shopping malls. It is part of a popular nightlife area known for its live music, food, drinks and televised sports, drawing large crowds on weekend nights.
The disaster has renewed scrutiny of fire safety standards in Thailand's entertainment industry.
Experts have long warned about the dangers posed by flammable decorative materials, overcrowded venues and blocked emergency exits. Similar concerns were raised after a Bangkok nightclub fire in 2009 that killed at least 65 people.
As investigators work to determine exactly what happened, families continue to mourn the victims while dozens of survivors remain in hospital recovering from their injuries.
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