Three foreign tourists tragically lost their lives in a devastating fire that tore through the Ember Hotel in central Bangkok on Sunday night. The blaze, which occurred in the historic Phra Nakhon district of the Thai capital, also resulted in injuries to seven other individuals.
The fire reportedly ignited at approximately 9:15 pm on Sunday, prompting emergency services to swiftly respond following a call received by Thai media. Authorities later confirmed that the fire had originated in Room 511 of the hotel, situated in close proximity to Khao San Road, a renowned area frequented by tourists for its affordable lodging options.
Law enforcement officials revealed that three Korean men had been registered guests of Room 511 but were fortunately absent at the time of the fire’s outbreak. Authorities are currently endeavoring to locate these individuals for interrogation regarding the circumstances surrounding the fire incident.
Upon opening the door, hotel staff were met with billowing clouds of thick black smoke emanating from the affected room. Emergency responders promptly evacuated 34 out of the 75 guests to the rooftop, where they were subsequently rescued by crane trucks and relocated to nearby hotels for refuge and safety.
Tragically, the three victims who succumbed to the fire have been identified as Carolina Pimentel Canales de Albuquerque, a 24-year-old Brazilian woman, Tuzov Victor, a 27-year-old Ukrainian man, and Freeman Timothy Jr, a 35-year-old American man. The two male victims were pronounced deceased at Vajira Hospital and Samitivej Chinatown Hospital, while Ms. Canales tragically passed away at the hotel premises.
Ms. Canales had been in Thailand with her fiancé to commemorate their recent engagement. During the chaos of the fire, her fiancé managed to escape by leaping to safety from the third floor, while Ms. Canales, disoriented by the smoke, mistakenly sought refuge in Room 511.
The Ember Hotel, a converted six-storey structure from repurposed old shophouses, was equipped with fire exits and extinguishers but notably lacked a sprinkler system. Thai regulatory standards do not mandate sprinkler installations in properties with less than 80 rooms.
Following an on-site assessment of the incident on December 30, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt emphasized the critical importance of enhancing fire safety protocols and evacuation strategies for both hotel proprietors and guests. He urged visitors to familiarize themselves with the locations of fire exits in any accommodation they patronize.
Law enforcement officials are actively investigating the root cause of the fire and have not ruled out the possibilities of negligence or deliberate misconduct. In response to the tragedy, Bangkok police announced plans to implement drone technology during the upcoming New Year holidays to bolster emergency response capabilities.
Drones were instrumental in aiding rescue operations during the Ember Hotel fire, facilitating the identification and guidance of trapped individuals within the building. The respective embassies of the deceased victims have been duly informed, with local authorities coordinating efforts to extend support to the bereaved families.
