BANGKOK SEATIZENS –A fire broke out at an abandoned boat hotel on Koh Chang, resulting in severe damage to all seven floors of the building. The incident occurred on December 3, 2024, at approximately 5:30 p.m. at the Klong Kloy Beach area in Ban Bang Bae, Koh Chang District. The fire raged for over four hours, consuming furniture and equipment such as curtains, mattresses, blankets, and pillows. Local authorities and rescue teams struggled to control the blaze due to the building’s complex structure, which combined metal and wood, with narrow windows that hindered effective firefighting efforts.
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According to Thairath , The district’s officials, including Koh Chang District Chief Nirith Palakawong Na Ayutthaya, Koh Chang Police Station Chief Pol. Col. Wallop Kangtharathip, and local community leaders, closely monitored the situation. The fire was initially discovered by a hotel staff member, Sittiwat Sapjai, who was showing five foreign tourists around the abandoned hotel when they heard loud shouts of “fire.” Upon investigating, he saw flames coming from a lower-level room and immediately evacuated the tourists, contacting the local authorities and community leaders for assistance. Despite their efforts, the fire quickly spread due to the large amount of flammable materials in the rooms.
An investigation revealed that earlier in the day, a worker had been welding metal to install flower decorations in the area where the fire began. It is unclear whether this was the cause of the fire, and authorities are awaiting a thorough inspection by the Forensic Science Department of Trat Province to determine the exact cause. The initial damage assessment is still pending.
(Beam Chayapon)
