BANGKOK, Thailand: The city's governor promised stricter inspections, while police began investigating possible negligence and safety violations even as the death toll from the fire at the live music pub in Thailand's capital rose to 30 on July 14.

The fire, one of the deadliest in Thailand in recent years, broke out at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub in the northern Chatuchak area just before midnight on Sunday. Witnesses said there was an explosion, followed by a burst of fire and smoke that quickly filled the single-storey building.

Officials said 24 people were in critical condition, while dozens of others had been treated and discharged. Three people who had been in hospital later died.

The pub is located at a busy intersection near train stations and two shopping malls. It is one of many similar bars in the area that are usually crowded on weekends, serving food, alcohol, live music and televised football.

Authorities believe an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire in a ceiling air conditioner. The pub had passed a safety inspection in April. Police are also checking whether exits were blocked and whether flammable materials were used for stage decoration and soundproofing.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said at a press conference that a committee had been set up to determine what happened, what needed to be improved, and which rules might need to change. He added that more random checks would be carried out.

Police said they had interviewed 34 people so far and would consider charges after gathering all the facts and evidence. The pub owner is among those being treated in an intensive care unit.

At a Bangkok morgue, rescue workers were seen moving a coffin while cameras and reporters gathered nearby. Family members and friends arrived in grief to collect the body.

Outside the pub, some relatives mourned the victims as forensic teams collected evidence.

In a Facebook post, the pub apologized for the fire and said it was fully cooperating with the investigation. It said it deeply regretted the tragic events, expressed condolences to the families of those who died, and offered support to those injured.

In a desperate appeal, one parent asked if anyone had seen their son in any hospital, adding that the child was their only son.

The pub did not respond to calls or requests for comment regarding the investigation's early findings.

Thailand has seen several major fires at entertainment venues in the past. Although such places are required to follow fire safety rules, these are not always strictly enforced.

In 2022, a nightclub fire in Chonburi killed at least 13 people. In 2009, a New Year's Eve fire at a crowded Bangkok club killed 65 people and injured about 200. Investigations later found corruption and safety violations.

In Bangkok's Khaosan Road area, about 10 km from the fire site, visitors said they were saddened by the incident but not worried about safety.

A tourist from Boston said that it did not worry them and that all the places they had visited felt safe. The tourist's companion said the fire seemed like a one-off incident and that it should not discourage people from visiting.