Fire Shareholders Question Cause of Fire at Chiang Mai’s Dhara Dhevi Hotel

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from the fire.

 

Shareholders of the Dhara Dhevi Hotel in Chiang Mai are disputing the cause of a devastating fire that broke out on April 23, raising concerns about the safety practices of a joint venture company involved in the hotel’s operation.

 

The fire, which severely damaged the Dheva Spa building, has significantly tarnished the hotel’s reputation. Shareholders, represented by Ms. Yaowalak Ritsomjit of Inter Far East Energy Corporation Public Company Limited (IFEC), which operates the hotel, have claimed that the blaze may have been sparked by improper wiring used by the joint venture company, Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co. Ltd. They allege that the company illegally tapped into the power supply, creating a hazardous tangle of cables that violated safety standards, despite prior warnings and a municipal order to halt the hotel’s operation.

 

Ms. Yaowalak provided evidence to the media, suggesting that the joint venture company had reopened part of the hotel in a manner that was both risky and non-compliant with regulations. She explained the ownership structure of the hotel, noting that IFEC acquired the Dhara Dhevi Hotel in a public auction on December 27, 2023, through its subsidiary, Inter Far East Thermal Power Co. Ltd. (I THERMAL), at a price of 3.65 billion baht.

 

However, a payment dispute meant IFEC could only pay 2.37 billion baht for the assets of Dhara Dhevi Hotel Co. Ltd., leaving a significant portion of the hotel’s assets, owned by APK Development Co. Ltd., to be re-auctioned and acquired by another party. This division has led to ongoing issues with the hotel’s utilities, including a lack of running water, a substandard sewage system, and electricity to only about 20% of the property.

 

Following the acquisition, IFEC formed a joint venture with Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co. Ltd., but the hotel has since fallen into disrepair. Ms. Yaowalak cited these issues, including a lack of fire-fighting systems and unsafe electrical wiring, as contributing factors to the fire. The fire, which destroyed the Dheva Spa, was exacerbated by a lack of functioning emergency water systems, as the required pumps were located in the section of the hotel owned by APK Development Co. Ltd.

 

Despite claims from Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co. Ltd. that the Dheva Spa building had been cut off from the power supply for years, videos from visitors show that the power was still on at the time of the fire, casting doubt on these assertions. The joint venture company has denied using electricity in the building, claiming that only a few temporary lights were installed in non-compliant, makeshift wiring, which they believe could not have caused such a large fire.

Images confirm that Dheva Spa had electricity turned on, and photos reveal dangerous electrical wiring that bypassed the control room.

 

The shareholders have also raised concerns about the hotel’s lack of water and sewage systems, and the use of inadequate solutions, such as hoses laid across roads to fetch water from a nearby temple.

 

In response to the fire, the shareholders plan to hold a press conference in Chiang Mai in early May 2025 to further address the issues, inviting representatives from the joint venture for questioning. They also intend to request a meeting with the governor of Chiang Mai to discuss official actions that could prevent further risks posed by the Dhara Dhevi Hotel to the community and environment.

 

Related article:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1358543-blaze-erupts-at-chiang-mai’s-dhara-dhevi-hotel/

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-04-29.