Three foreigners killed in hotel fire in Bangkok

Three foreign tourists killed in a fire at Ember Hotel near Bangkok’s Khao San Road. Seven injured

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A fire broke out at the Ember Hotel near Bangkok’s popular Khao San Road on Sunday night, resulting in the deaths of three foreign tourists and injuring several others, Thai police confirmed on Monday.

According to Police Colonel Sanong Saengmanee, the three victims were all foreign nationals. One woman was found dead at the scene, while two men succumbed to their injuries after being transported to the hospital.

Police later identified the deceased as a Brazilian woman, a Ukrainian man, and an American man. Four other people were hospitalized, with one in critical condition.

The fire started on the fifth floor of the six-story Ember Hotel, which is located near Khao San Road, a well-known backpacker destination in Bangkok. The fire was eventually contained, and authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze. At the time of the fire, 75 people were staying at the hotel.

Sreekanth Kolamala, a 37-year-old Indian national who was on vacation in Thailand, witnessed the rescue operation and described the efforts to save those trapped in the building.

“Firefighters broke the glass over there to try to pull people out,” Kolamala said.

Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Road Business Association, expressed concern about the potential impact on the New Year’s Eve celebrations, which were expected to draw around 20,000 people.

“Now everybody’s scared about what happened and they’re scared it will affect the event tomorrow. But definitely there’s no worry because we already had a meeting with the police station and we have over 150 police and district staff to cover on Khao San Road for security,” he said.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt also stressed the importance of safety ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations. “We have to ensure everything is secure,” he said, especially considering the planned fireworks and other citywide festivities.

The incident has raised concerns about safety in the area as authorities continue to investigate.