At least 27 killed in Bangkok bar fire

The prime minister told reporters that he asked a musician, who was performing when the fire started, what happened.

"He said that there was a fire at the cut-out switch, and after that things happened very quickly. There was blasting and everybody tried to flee from the smoke and flames.

"Many of them were not able to make their way out because they went to the back of the building and tried to hide themselves from the smoke and flames in the toilet, and that's where we found most of the bodies."

The bar - named locally as Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao - is located in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok. It is a popular restaurant and entertainment venue in the area, Thai outlet the Daily News reported, external.

Confronting pictures taken after the fire had been brought under control show many body bags lined up outside the bar, and a large cordon around the area.

Inside, the furniture, walls and ceiling are completely blackened, and parts of the ceiling is peeling off.