Police investigating the deadly Rong Beer Na Ladprao pub fire in Bangkok say they are close to completing their inquiries, as the death toll rose to 37 after another injured victim succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday.
Investigators at the Phahon Yothin police station have already questioned more than 150 witnesses, including business operators, injured survivors, relatives of victims and experts from relevant agencies.
Only six or seven additional witnesses, including electricity officials and other related parties, remain to be interviewed, Thai Rath Online reported on Wednesday.
Pol Capt Peerapong Phosri, a deputy investigation inspector, said the beer hall’s owner, Suwicha Salaibart, 45, has not yet been questioned because he remains in intensive care at Paolo Kaset Hospital.
Police expect the case file to become more complete next week as they continue gathering evidence for possible charges related to negligence and violations of the Building Control Act.
The latest victim was identified as Onarnong Sarisri, 25, who had been receiving treatment at Rajavithi Hospital since the fire broke out on the night of July 12.
Onarnong had been a customer at the venue on the night of the blaze, said Pol Maj Gen Kiattikul Sonthinen, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2.
Police were notified of her death at 5.39am. Her body was transferred to the Police General Hospital for an autopsy.
In addition to those who died, another 78 people were injured, with 20 still being treated in hospital.
The fire erupted shortly before midnight on July 12 when about 300 people were inside the single-storey venue. Previous forensic examinations found traces of carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide in victims’ blood, indicating that many may have died from inhaling toxic gases generated by the fast-spreading blaze.
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