On July 13, Nonchai Thongpraserit, male vocalist of the Thakaran band performing that night, recounted his escape from the fire that broke out in the upper right area behind the stage. The guitarist and keyboardist who died were the first to spot thick smoke billowing up and shouted warnings for everyone to flee. Another vocalist on stage then shouted for customers and staff to run for their lives as smoke thickened and flames spread rapidly.

Nonchai survived because he happened to be in the bathroom near the fire exit. Had he spent just five more seconds inside, he would certainly have died. The fire exit near the bathroom was blocked by tables and chairs belonging to a vendor, creating a bottleneck. Only three to four people had escaped before him when an elderly vendor in front of him collapsed, blocking the way. He had to kick the vendor and the fallen chair aside to escape. As he fled through the door, thick black smoke surged out after him, and no one else could follow. Only four to five more people crawled on their knees to escape.

Nonchai also revealed that multiple explosions occurred near the kitchen after he escaped, sending flames bursting through every back door. The blast force hit the sound engineer's back as he was the last person trying to escape through the rear door—a fire exit that only the singers and waitstaff knew about.

Regarding the venue's safety issues, Nonchai noted that when the band first started performing, musicians used the bathroom back door as a shortcut to dress without walking through the kitchen. But later the venue strictly prohibited this access and allowed the vendor to set up tables and chairs blocking the way. He also identified electrical system problems, as the venue typically scheduled his band on Fridays when it was crowded and air conditioning ran at full capacity, causing regular power outages during performances.

Nonchai acknowledged feeling responsible for the tragedy, saying he told another female singer Brees that she was no longer breathing. He tried to help perform CPR and resuscitate victims alongside rescue workers, and at first the victim's pulse seemed to return with movement toward the front, but ultimately doctors and rescuers could not save her. When he saw the victim's body covered with white cloth before his eyes, he was devastated.

On July 13, 2025, at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road, DSI investigators submitted evidence and arrest warrant requests for 24 people involved in a Forex fraud case, including list-MP Phawut Phongwittayapanu of the Pheu Thai Party (ประชาชน). However, the court carefully reviewed the evidence and approved arrest warrants for only 2 defendants who had clear victims and supporting evidence, while dismissing requests for the other 22 on grounds that summonses were more appropriate. The two individuals arrested were not Phawut. The court emphasized that it had thoroughly examined the evidence to prevent the process from becoming a tool for political manipulation.

LPP Property Management has expanded its real estate sales operations after BOOK UP, its sales and marketing division, signed a cooperation agreement with Welti Property to manage sales and comprehensive marketing strategy for the Vimana Sukhumvit-Bearing project, a luxury low-rise residential development with prices starting at 13.9 million baht.

On July 13, Somsri Techakaisiree, managing director of LPP Property Management, announced that BOOK UP has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Welti Property, the developer of the Vimana Sukhumvit-Bearing project, to oversee all sales management and comprehensive marketing strategy. The project is strategically located in the Sukhumvit-Bearing area, just 640 meters from Sri Bearing MRT Station, featuring 33 luxury low-rise residential units including twin houses and townhomes with usable areas ranging from 220 to 385 square meters. Designed under a private design concept emphasizing privacy and quality family living, units are ready for immediate occupancy.

Somsri stated that Welti Property's trust in BOOK UP confirms the division's expertise across all dimensions of real estate marketing and sales, including project analysis, sales planning, and comprehensive multi-channel marketing communications. She noted this reflects confidence in LPP's professional team and over 30 years of accumulated expertise.

Welti Property president Kritika Chaiwilai expressed confidence in BOOK UP's capabilities in sales management, market analysis, and strategic marketing planning, which will drive the efficient delivery of Vimana Sukhumvit-Bearing to the target customer base.

The Phuket Express -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bangkok, Thailand Survivors of the deadly fire at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao pub in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district on the night of July 12th, 2026, have described scenes of sudden panic, thick smoke, and desperate attempts to flee as the blaze rapidly engulfed the popular entertainment venue, killing at least 27 people and injuring over […] Survival Stories Describe Chaos and Narrow Escapes After Bangkok Pub Fire Claims 27 Lives, Injures Over 60 Others -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin has ordered the prosecution of influential figures and capitalists who have illegally encroached on forest land, reclaiming it as state property under the Prime Minister's urgent policy directive. On July 13, 2025, Suchart launched an aggressive enforcement operation at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants headquarters to advance Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's policy to eliminate powerful interests and restore forests to national ownership. He assigned Pol. Col. Surpol Boonma, secretary to the minister, along with Deputy Permanent Secretary Niphon Jamnongsirisak and National Parks Director Arthapol Jaroenchansaa to lead a task force in filing formal complaints against organized forest encroachment networks operating in Lam Son National Park, Ranong Province, and submit evidence to investigators.

Minister Suchart revealed that investigations discovered illegal deforestation in the Khao Pak Trien area in Kamphaen Subdistrict, Suksamnuay District, Ranong. The Prime Minister and Interior Minister have prioritized the case, ordering the National Parks task force to work with the Forest Department in a thorough investigation. Officials uncovered serious irregularities in land title documents (Form 3 Kor) overlapping pristine forest and national park boundaries across multiple plots. A ministerial oversight committee was established to expedite solutions and pursue prosecution to the fullest extent.

National Parks Director Arthapol Jaroenchansaa detailed the initial case, revealing that three land plots with the clearest evidence and satellite imagery have been selected for prosecution. The three Form 3 Kor documents were issued on June 24, 1994, but show massive "land expansion" anomalies. Plot 1 originally registered as 6 rai was remeasured at over 45 rai, with 15 rai 1 ngan 80 square wah encroaching into the national park. Plot 2 measured over 57 rai with 45 rai 96 square wah intruding into park boundaries. Plot 3, listed as only 1 rai, remeasured to over 50 rai with 4 rai 2 ngan 48 square wah additional encroachment. All plots claim agricultural use, but satellite imagery from before 1994 shows natural forest, coastal areas, and sandy terrain with no signs of farming activity.

Additionally, over 12 rai 2 ngan 68 square wah of unauthorized clearing and cultivation were discovered outside the title documents but within park boundaries. The total first-phase encroachment amounts to approximately 78 rai. The issuance of these three Form 3 Kor documents is clearly illegal, as the land was designated as Lam Son National Park in 1983—a protected area under law and Royal Decree 43 (1994), violating forest protection regulations.

Young artist Lek Ratchamet returned to his hometown of Phetchaburi to host a fan meet and officially close his debut album "Soundtrack of My Life." The Genie Records artist selected his birthplace to wrap up nearly two years of sharing his life story through five songs: "Soundtrack of My Life," "Jai Pen Nai Gai Pen Bao," "Lok Thang Thi," "Fah Kwang Thang Khaeng," and "Ob Uan." The album received overwhelming support, particularly the viral hit "Jai Pen Nai Gai Pen Bao" with 160 million views and "Lok Thang Thi" with over 64 million views.

The event bustled with activity from afternoon, featuring an 18-meter road closure in the heart of Phetchaburi town and over 20 local vendor booths. Lek himself deep-fried his signature fish cakes at a booth to distribute free samples to fans, while the first 10 minutes featured a flash sale giveaway. Artists BOVINI and O from FULL band joined to perform and delight the fans who traveled to witness the album closing at Lek's birthplace—a symbolic return to where all his dreams began.

Choosing Phetchaburi represented bringing "Soundtrack of My Life" full circle, from a fisherman's boy who sang on fishing boats and at restaurants to a professional artist who proved himself through his work and voice. Lek expressed his overwhelming gratitude for the response, admitting he initially expected only 300–500 attendees but was humbled by the massive turnout. Many fans traveled from far provinces, some taking 7–8 hours or even the train. Lek emphasized this first large-scale event meant everything to him, and he struggled to express his thanks to people from across the country who showed up to support him.