Two hotel executives have been charged in connection with Thailand's worst hotel fire, police said Wednesday.
The blaze Friday at the Royal Jomtien Resort in the beach city of Pattaya killed at least 90 people. Fifty more suffered smoke inhalation and other injuries. Locked fire exits and the lack of sprinklers and smoke alarms were blamed for many of the deaths.Thavorn Ujjin, managing director of Kiatpol Co. Ltd., which owns the hotel, and company chairman Indra Thamrongwitwatpong, both have been charged with involuntarily causing death and injury, said Maj. Gen. Kongdej Choosri, police commander of Chon Buri province, where the 8-year-old luxury hotel is located.
Both men were responsible for neglecting fire safety measures, Kongdej said. Police have interrogated seven other members of Kiatpol's executive board, but have not decided whether to arrest any of them, Kongdej said.
A coffee shop supervisor who reportedly opened a gas valve, causing an explosion that led to the fire, also was in custody.
Survivors and authorities have said the hotel lacked an alarm system, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Firefighters also found bodies piled up near fire exit doors that had been locked to prevent guests from leaving without paying their bills.
The blaze has caused a renewed outcry over lax fire safety regulations. Antiquated laws have left fines for violations so low that owners are willing to pay them daily rather than correct problems.
Prime Minister Chavalit Yonchaiyudh's cabinet on Tuesday ordered widespread fire safety inspections and told provincial authorities to report violators.