At first, only thick smoke billowed out of the front entrance of the bar in northern Bangkok. It was around midnight.
Within seconds, an intense horizontal plume of fire gushed out of the doorway leading to the street, according to a video posted on social media and verified by Reuters.
Screams and shrieks filled the air.
Outside for a cigarette, Usa Tadsree at first noticed the lights flicker inside and then spotted the smoke.
"I wanted to go back in to get my friends but there was intense heat coming out, so I had to run out," said Usa, 41.
