Bangkok — Three foreign nationals, including an American, were killed and seven others injured in a fire at a hotel in a popular tourist area of the Thai capital, Bangkok, city officials said Monday. This was reported by the National Police of Thailand post on social media that a Brazilian woman died at the hotel and two men, an American and a Ukrainian, were pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The cause of Sunday night's fire at the Ember Hotel near Khaosan Road, popular with tourists and budget travelers, is still under investigation.
A State Department spokesman in Washington confirmed the death of a US citizen in Bangkok to CBS News on Monday and offered the US government's condolences to the family, but declined to provide any further information, citing privacy concerns.
Five other foreigners and two Thai citizens were injured, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said on Monday.
Sakchai Lalit / AP
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sitipunt said firefighters reached the scene of the six-story hotel within five minutes of being alerted and rescued about 75 people using three cranes. Sittipunt ordered the hotel closed and an investigation into the alarm system.
In July, a fire broke out in the busy Chinatown area on Kaasan Road, prompting municipal authorities to use 40 fire engines to battle the blaze.
A month earlier, a fire engulfed a pet store near Bangkok's famous Chatuchak Market, killing many caged animals and destroying stalls.
Thailand's lax approach to health and safety regulations, particularly in its countless bars and hotels, has long been a source of concern.
The kingdom is expecting 1.5 million foreign tourists in the New Year period, government spokesman Jirayu Hungsub told local media as fireworks were being prepared in the capital on Tuesday night.
Municipal authorities said on Monday that they would “maintain readiness” ahead of the celebrations.