At least 27 people have died in a massive fire that ripped through a Bangkok bar, Thailand’s prime minister said.

Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after midnight and discovered customers fleeing through the venue’s front door engulfed in flames.

Unverified footage shows flames rising from the bar as a woman falls to the ground before standing up to escape.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters at the scene that 27 people died and several were taken to hospital. He stressed that the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Charnivirakul told reporters that he asked a musician who was performing when the fire started what had happened.

“He said there was a fire at the cutoff switch, and then everything happened very quickly. There were explosions and everyone tried to run away from the smoke and flames.

“A lot of them couldn’t get out because they went to the back of the building and tried to hide from the smoke and flames in the bathroom, and that’s where we found most of the bodies.”

The bar, locally called Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, is located in the Chatuchak district and is a famous entertainment venue and restaurant in the area, Thai media Daily News reported., external.

Firefighters were able to control the flames within half an hour.

Photographs taken inside the bar after the fire was extinguished show it completely charred and blackened, with the roof peeling off.

Several people are still missing after the disaster, Thai media outlet Thairath reported., external.

Personnel from Sutthisan Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene at 00:02 am local time.

Unverified reports said that a passing driver saw the fire at 11:30 p.m. local time (5:30 p.m. BST).

He told the Daily News he jumped out of his car and broke the windows to help two people escape.

This is a breaking story. More updates will follow.