At least 27 people were killed and several others injured after a massive fire broke out in a bar in the Thai capital Bangkok late Sunday night, according to Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

The Prime Minister told reporters at the scene that rescue teams had recovered 27 bodies, while a number of injured were taken to hospitals, adding that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Rescuers reported that the fire started around midnight at a bar in the Lad Prao area north of the capital, and firefighters took about half an hour to bring it under control.

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Video footage from the scene showed thick flames and black smoke billowing from the building, as dozens of people tried to flee.

Thai public broadcaster Thai PBS World reported that the death toll could be higher, saying at least 30 people were killed, while authorities have not yet confirmed this figure.

The disaster recalls similar incidents in Thailand, most notably a bar fire in the east of the country in 2022 that killed 14 people.