27 killed in fire at brewery in Bangkok, Thailand

A fire has swept through a brewery and entertainment venue in Bangkok, Thailand, killing at least 27 people and injuring others, according to rescue officials. Many of the victims were reportedly found inside the bathrooms.

The fire was reported at 11:57 p.m. Sunday at a venue in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. Firefighters arrived five minutes later and found flames burning through the building.

Footage from the scene showed intense flames shooting from the entrance as people fled the building, including some whose clothes were on fire. Other videos showed emergency responders performing CPR on multiple victims outside.

Firefighters battled the flames for about half an hour before bringing the fire under control at 12:32 a.m. Monday. Search and rescue teams then entered the building to locate victims.

A total of 27 people have been confirmed dead, including 18 women and nine men, according to Fire & Rescue Thailand. The full number of injured has not been released.

Thai PBS reported that many of those who died were found in the venue’s bathrooms, where they apparently sought shelter after becoming trapped by smoke and fire.

There were also reports that emergency exits were sealed, preventing people from escaping, but authorities have not yet confirmed those accounts.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is unclear whether any foreign nationals are among the dead or injured.