At least three foreign tourists are feared dead after a major fire ripped through a backpacker hotel in Bangkok.
The flames caused panic when they tore through The Ember Hotel in the iconic backpacker district near Khao San Road shortly after 9 p.m. local time.
Frantic staff evacuated 40 young tourists from the hotel’s rooftop bar before pickers took them to safety.
Firefighters worked their way into the building to the source of the fire on the fifth floor, while their colleagues battled the flames from outside.
They found a tourist and a man in their room who had fainted from smoke inhalation.
The woman was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene, while the unresponsive man was taken to hospital in intensive care.
Thai media reported that three foreign tourists, including the tourist who fainted from smoke inhalation, died due to the fire.
A fourth victim was reportedly hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
A foreign tourist (left) looks at the scene after a fire at the Ember Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 29, 2024.
A police officer escorts tourists who were evacuated from the hotel
Firefighters at the scene of the fire at the Ember hotel in Bangkok
Thai rescuers helped 40 people from the roof of the building.
A fire brigade spokesman said: ‘At 9.26pm firefighters arrived at the scene of the fire at a six-storey hotel building.
‘The fire occurred on the fifth floor. There were two people trapped in a room. One was a man and the other a woman.
‘Hotel staff helped 40 people from the roof of the building and firefighters moved in to extinguish the fire. Smoke filled all the upper floors.
The fire was brought under control around 10:30 p.m. local time.
Khao San Road is one of the busiest areas in Bangkok, with thousands of backpackers filling the street every night.
Located in the Banglamphu area, near the Chao Phraya River, it has become a destination for travelers from all over the world.
Rooms in budget hotels on Khao San Road can be found for as little as 200 Thai baht (£4.68) per night.