PATTAYA: A fire at a hotel on popular Jomtien beach sent hundreds of guests fleeing from the building in panic early on Wednesday morning.
There were no reports of injuries at the Grand Jomtien Palace, but some coughed and spluttered after inhaling the smoke that filled part of the building, police said. Power was cut off.
The fire, which broke out on the 12th floor, was reported to police about 1.30am
About 300 Thai and foreign guests, many plucked from sleep, fled as firefighters were called to the scene. Fire crews took about an hour to put out the blaze.
Initial checks found that the fire had started in an electrical power control room and quickly spread to a lower floor.
The investigation was continuing.
Tourists who escaped the fire accident at Grand Jomtien Palace hotel wait to observe the situation outside the building. Chaiyot Pupattanapong