“Chadchart” orders strict safety measures for restaurants, fearing a repeat of the Lat Phrao Brewery fire. He instructs all district directors to conduct daily patrols and inspections, with immediate service suspension for any high-risk venues.
On 13 July 2026, Chadchart Sitthipunt, Governor of Bangkok, chaired the first meeting of Bangkok agency heads since beginning his second term, joined by his management team.
Before the meeting agenda, Chadchart ordered officials to stand in silence to honor victims of the Lat Phrao Brewery fire. He emphasized to agency heads that after the incident, he personally visited the scene and was deeply moved by seeing a mother crying while searching for her child.
Chadchart noted that the Lat Phrao Brewery fire involved complex legal issues regarding restaurants and establishments, with multiple overlapping permits. He stressed the need for detailed legal review and ordered all district directors to inspect their areas. He identified blocked emergency exits and uncertainty about whether emergency alarms were triggered during the fire as key issues, adding that it needs to be checked if emergency doors were locked.
Regarding flammable materials on ceilings, Chadchart explained that sometimes these are not covered by regulations. Therefore, inspections require judgment. The health and safety of the public must take priority.
He added that inspections must be thorough and not limited to checking compliance with regulations alone. The restaurant involved in the fire had passed an inspection in April and appeared compliant, but in practice, candy tables blocked the emergency exit. Continuous inspections are essential. He urged district directors to take this seriously, saying that if problems are found, they should immediately order closures for safety. He also called for improvements to the checklist system used in inspections.
The governor also noted that flammable materials pose a challenge because they sometimes conflict with noise control measures. Some restaurants install soundproofing materials to prevent noise complaints, but these materials can be highly flammable. He advised district directors to inspect such cases carefully.
“From now on, inspections must be conducted every night, not as formal audits but as random and observational checks. If any risks are detected, order immediate closure and require improvements before reopening,” he said.