BANGKOK (AP & SCMP) — A devastating fire broke out at the Ember Hotel near Khao San Road, a well-known tourist hotspot in Bangkok, resulting in the tragic deaths of three foreign tourists on Sunday night.

The victims included a Brazilian woman, a Ukrainian man, and an American man, with one individual found dead at the scene, while the other two succumbed to their injuries shortly after being transported to the hospital. Additionally, four other individuals were hospitalized, with one reported to be in critical condition (source: South China Morning Post).

According to police reports, the flames erupted on the 5th floor of the six-story building, where around 75 guests were staying. A total of seven individuals sustained injuries, which included two Thai nationals and five foreign tourists (source: AP News).

Sreekanth Kolamala, a witness from Singapore, described how firefighters "broke the glass over there to try to pull people out," highlighting the urgency of the rescue efforts.

Local officials, including Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Road Business Association, expressed concerns about the New Year’s Eve countdown event set to draw over 20,000 attendees the following night. "Now everybody’s scared about what happened, and they’re scared it will affect the event tomorrow," Ruangwattanakul stated, assuring that extensive security measures had been put in place, with over 150 police and district staff on site (source: South China Morning Post).

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt underscored the significance of ensuring safety ahead of the celebrations, given the city's plans for fireworks and other festivities.

As investigations into the cause of the blaze continue, the tragedy has raised concerns about safety in one of Bangkok's most crowded tourist areas.