BANGKOK, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's government on Tuesday ordered a nationwide safety inspection of entertainment venues following a deadly fire at a Bangkok pub over the weekend.
During a cabinet meeting, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul instructed the Ministry of Interior to coordinate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, local administrative bodies, the police, and other relevant agencies to complete building and entertainment venue inspections across the country within 30 days.
According to government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek, inspectors will focus on fire prevention systems, emergency exits, building occupancy limits, and compliance with existing safety laws and construction standards.
Under the new directive, any venue found to be non-compliant or operating illegally will be shut down immediately and barred from reopening until it corrects the violations and passes a follow-up inspection, Ratchada stated.
Anutin, who is also the interior minister, emphasized that the fire is a national concern reflecting a pattern of past disasters and urged coordinated, long-term reforms for safety enforcement across the sector.
In a statement, the government also directed agencies to make inspection results and progress public in the interest of transparency, saying the move was intended to reassure citizens that authorities are treating venue safety as a top priority. ■