At least three tourists killed after fire breaks out in Bangkok backpacker hotel
Share:
At least three foreign tourists have died and others injured after a fire broke out at a backpacker hotel in Bangkok. The blaze started on the 5th floor of the six-story Ember Hotel, near Khao San Road – a popular and lively backpacker strip – according to Thai police.
![[epa11797952 Forensic police officers inspect the scene of a blaze at The Ember Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, 29 December 2024. According to police at the scene, a number of casualties were reported when a fire broke out at the hotel near the tourist spot of Khao San Road.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234505036-2f3f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
One person was found dead at the scene, while the other two died at hospital, police colonel Sanong Saengmanee said. They were later identified as a Brazilian woman, a Ukrainian man and an American man. Meanwhile, five people were taken to hospital, including a Japanese woman in critical condition.
The others were identified as a Japanese man, two Germans and a Thai electrician. The cause of the fire, which has been brought under control, is under investigation. Seventy-five people were staying at the hotel at the time. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video.
![[epa11797904 A Tourist police officer escort tourists who were evacuated after a blaze at The Ember Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, 29 December 2024. According to police at the scene, a number of casualties were reported when a fire broke out at the hotel near the tourist spot of Khao San Road.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234497975-999d.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Up Next. Witness Sreekanth Kolamala, a 37-year-old Indian national who lives in Singapore and was in Thailand on holiday, said firefighters ‘broke the glass over there to try to pull people out’. Sanga Ruangwattanakul, the president of the Khao San Road Business Association, said 20,000 people were expected at a New Year’s Eve countdown event in the area on Tuesday night.
![[epa11797912 A foreign tourist (L) looks at the scene after a blaze at The Ember Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, 29 December 2024. According to police at the scene, a number of casualties were reported when a fire broke out at the hotel near the tourist spot of Khao San Road.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234498170-18cc.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
He said: ‘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.’.
