Six 'Farang' Injured in Fire at Marine Plaza Hotel

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Note from GB:: I had originally posted this message saying that this hotel is at Sunee Plaza. LetMeTellU pointed out that is not correct. I had the location wrong. I sincerely apologize for my error.

 

The following appears in THE NATION:

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Six foreign Tourists Injured in Pataya Hotel Fire

 

Pattaya - Six foreign tourists were injured after a fire raged through a hotel in this seaside town late Monday night, police said.

 

Police said the blaze broke out at a room on the fourth floor of the six-floor Marine Plaza Hotel at 20 minutes past midnight.

 

Eight fire engines took about half an hour to control the fire.

 

Three tourists were injured after falling from the building while climbing out to their room balcony to escape the fire. Three other became sick after inhaling smoke.

 

Police have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

 

The Nation

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The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS:

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Six Injured in Marine Plaza Hotel Blaze in South Pattaya

 

On Tuesday Night, Police and Fire Rescue Workers received an urgent call to attend the Marine Plaza Hotel located on the Pratamnuk Road in South Pattaya after hotel staff reported a fire on the fourth floor and persons trapped inside. Upon arrival, fire fighters were met with a scene of chaos as hotel guests, mostly of middle-eastern origin were leaving the hotel and shouting up to compatriots who were trapped on balconies.

 

The fire took hold at around Midnight and according to Fire Investigators began in Room Number 431 on the fourth floor. Thick smoke left many trapped and in need of rescue and although no fatalities were reported, their were six residents who were taken away in Ambulances suffering from smoke inhalation. It took firefighters 1 hour to control the fire which caused widespread smoke damage covering three floors. Eventually Fire rescue workers managed to rescue those trapped on Balconies which left Police with the task of investigating the fire and ensuring that the fire was not deliberate.

 

Room number 431, where the fire began, was occupied by Mr. Khalid Hamed Musaba aged 24 from Oman who was taken to Pattaya Police Station where he provided a statement claiming that the air conditioning unit in his room suddenly caught on fire as he slept. He woke up and quickly left the room. Police took him back to the room after the fire had been put out but were not convinced that the fire started at the Air Conditioning Unit as extensive damage to the surrounding area and minimal damage to the Unit suggested this may have not been the case.

 

At Pattaya Police Station it was put to him that he may have been smoking in the room but he continually denied these allegations and stuck to his original story. Further investigations are taking place to determine the exact cause of the fire. For now, Mr. Musaba continues to help Police with their enquiries and the Hotel begins the clean-up operation to repair four rooms which have been completely destroyed and extensive smoke damage in more than 20 rooms.