Deadly Hat Yai fire 'sabotage'

Deadly Hat Yai fire 'sabotage'

A car bomb is believed to have caused the fire that killed five people at a Hat Yai hotel and sent more than 300 to hospital on Saturday.

It was fairly clear that the blast was caused by a car bomb, according to evidence found at the scene, said Surin Weerasook, a mechanic (professional level) with the Region 12 Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, who led an inspection team to examine the cause of the explosion.

Four men and one woman died in the fire, Songkhla Governor Grisada Boorach told AFP. He said 336 people were injured, of whom 28 were in hospital.

Hat Yai mayor Phrai Phatthano reportedly admitted that the fire was caused by sabotage on the underground floor of the five-star Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel. However, he urged all sides to wait for an official conclusion on what caused the blaze.

The fire broke out just after a series of blasts in the commercial heart of Yala killed 10 people and injured more than 100, on one of the deaadliest days of the protracted southern insurgency.

Mr Surin said explosives had been hidden in a car parked on the underground parking floor, B2 of the 33-storey Lee Gardens in Songkhla province’s business and shopping hub.

The force of the blast tore the car to pieces and debris penetared the hotel's first floor located three floors above.

About 10 cars parked on B4 were also heavily damaged.

Mr Surin’s assumption coincided with TV news footage showing that explosives ordnance disposal (EOD) police had collected objects believed to be explosive devices at the scene.

Charred remains of five human bodies, one of them a woman, were found on separate underground floors of the hotel. Between 300 and 400 people were injured, mostly suffering rom smoke inhalation, burns and injuries from broken glass and falling debris, Mr Prai said.

Initial reports indicated that the fire was caused by an explosion in the five-star hotel’s gas pipeline system, and officials denied reports of a car bomb.

Songkhla Provincial Administration Organisation president Udon Uthit Choochart told Thai PBS television shortly before 6pm that emergency fire and rescue teams had used cranes to evacuate all people stranded on upper floors between seventh and 33th stories, which house the hotel rooms.

Heavy black smoke was seen billowing out of the underground floors and clouding the sky. Authorities earlier tried to use ventilation fans to clear heat and smoke to help stranded guests flee the hotel but failed due to excessive smoke.

Reports said the air in the underground floors was filled with gas, requiring authorities to wear oxygen masks and take turns in the area, for only 30 minutes maximum at a time.

~News courtesy of Bangkok Post~