A devastating fire broke out Sunday evening at a hotel near Bangkok’s famous Kaosan Street, causing tragic deaths and injuries among guests and staff.
The fire reportedly started around 9:21 p.m. on the fifth floor in room 511 of the six-storey hotel, which the Bangkok governor later publicly identified as the Ember Hotel.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as thick black smoke filled the air and flames could be seen shooting through the building. Emergency services were quickly alerted and fire engines and rescuers were on the scene by 9.26 p.m.
The firefighters’ efforts were crucial in evacuating more than 40 guests and staff to safety, many of whom were rescued from the roof of the hotel. Despite these efforts, the incident resulted in three deaths and at least one other person was hospitalised due to smoke poisoning. Tourists were reportedly among the victims, which emphasises the impact of this tragedy.
Hotel casualty information
Preliminary reports suggest that all three of the dead were foreign nationals, although authorities are not yet releasing their names, ages and nationalities, citing the need to contact their families and embassies.
Seven people were reportedly injured, including two German nationals, a Japanese national, a Chinese national, two Thai nationals and an unidentified foreign woman. Two, the Chinese man and the unidentified foreign woman, are in serious condition in intensive care at the time of publication at local hospitals, while the others suffered mostly minor injuries.
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt ordered the hotel temporarily closed and launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. The exact causes of the fire remain under scrutiny, but early reports suggest it could have been an electrical fault or mishandling of fire-prone items in the building. The incident has sparked conversations about fire safety standards in Thailand’s hospitality industry, especially in places frequented by tourists.
