Pattaya –
According to local forums in Thailand some people lost their lives in the Pattaya fire last night. According to the local Police only six foreign tourists who injured but in many forums there are the talk about one or two dead from people that saw the fire. Many people was around since this area is close to the “Marine II†night club famous to be open until early morning. It is in the middle of the Arab side of Pattaya where bars are open through out the night. Fourth floor of the six-floor Marine Plaza Hotel at 20 minutes past midnight
It took eight fire engines to get the fire under control.
Some of the tourist was inured when jumping from the balcony and some got caught by the smoke from the fire in the building.
Most hotels in Pattaya do not have sprinkler systems, fire alarms or even proper fire exits.
The staff is often seasonal and not educated in fire drills and has no idea how to handle a fire or other emergency more then to get them self’s out.
When ab incident occurs like this in Thailand most of the time there will be yet another “crackdownâ€Â. Hopefully it will not come too late since the peak season is on its way and most of the hotels in Pattaya are already fully booked.
When checking into the hotel, please make sure that you remember the fire exits and make sure they are not looked or blocked. if so ask the staff to unlock them or change hotel.
Check emergency lighting, in Thailand they look like a car battery with two or more lights on them. If there are none in your hotel corridor you probably will not be able to find your way out in a case of fire at night.
You can also check for an emergency evacuation plan that should be on each floor in the hotel but most of the hotels do not have it.
