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Today, 11 July, marks the 28th anniversary of one of Thailand’s deadliest disasters , the catastrophic fire at the Royal Jomtien Resort Hotel in Pattaya on 11 July 1997. The blaze, which tore through the beachfront hotel while it was filled with guests and seminar attendees, claimed the lives of 91 people and left scores injured.

 

The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of the morning when a fire broke out in the lower floors of the hotel. Panic quickly spread as thick smoke filled corridors and stairwells, leaving many guests trapped in their rooms. Survivors later recounted harrowing scenes of confusion and desperation, with some forced to leap from windows to escape the flames.

 

A particularly grim discovery was made when fire crews found dozens of bodies piled near a sealed emergency exit. The fire escape door, which should have served as a vital route to safety, had reportedly been locked or obstructed, a fatal oversight that became a chilling symbol of the disaster’s preventable nature.

 

Only several hours after fire started did appliances and equipment adequate for fighting fires in high-rise buildings arrive from Bangkok Fire and Rescue Service. The arrival of the Bangkok fire appliances was delayed in part by a traffic crash in Chachoengsao that killed 11 civilian volunteers who had also been traveling to the fire.

 

Investigations following the blaze revealed a series of safety failures that contributed to the staggering death toll. Most notably, the hotel’s fire suppression system was inoperable. The building’s water pump, essential for feeding the fire hoses and sprinkler system, was found to be defective, rendering the entire firefighting infrastructure useless at the moment it was most needed.

 

Emergency response teams struggled to contain the blaze due to inadequate access, lack of water pressure and insufficient equipment. As flames consumed floor after floor, many guests found themselves with nowhere to turn.

 

 

In the aftermath, the incident prompted public outrage and led to widespread calls for reform in Thailand’s building safety regulations. The government promised stricter enforcement of fire codes, but critics argued that meaningful change came too slowly and often only after tragedy struck.

 

Families of the victims continue to commemorate the event each year, holding remembrance ceremonies and calling for greater accountability in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

 

 

Though nearly three decades have passed, the Royal Jomtien fire remains etched in Thailand’s collective memory as a sobering reminder of the human cost of negligence. For many, the anniversary is not only a time of mourning but also a moment to reflect on the importance of safety, regulation and the need to learn from lessons of the past.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now 2025-07-11

 

 

 

Unfortunately, some of the  systemic deficiencies common in Thailand seem to have not been addressed as demonstrated by the Ember Hotel fire in December 2024, which saw 3 killed.  This is why  events like the Jomtien Hotel fire must be remembered, so that repeats can be prevented.

 

 

I remember it well, a few things in life get etched in your mind and never leave, this and 4 of us tying dead guys up with wire to fit through the door of a helicopter.

From the outside it looked like the hotel was just rebuilt the same and I bet if you checked the stairwell they would still be locked.

After that when I stay at a hotel etc I check out the escape route. One hotel had the doors to the outside exit locked and when I bought it up with the manager he said if I didn't like it change hotels.

He said they have to lock the exits to stop people coming in from outside who weren't guests.

Sad. 😞

45 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Only several hours after fire started did appliances and equipment adequate for fighting fires in high-rise buildings arrive from Bangkok Fire and Rescue Service. The arrival of the Bangkok fire appliances was delayed in part by a traffic crash in Chachoengsao that killed 11 civilian volunteers who had also been traveling to the fire.

 

Feck me thats ordinary.

Around one month earlier I stayed there for a few nights with my ex Thai girlfriend. I remember it well. 

29 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Feck me thats ordinary.

As I remember it, to get the large trucks to Pattaya they had to get permission from the big boss, but he was unavailable until much later.

Had fire trucks at the fire running out of water because other water tankers were filling up on the same water line.

 

3 minutes ago, carlyai said:

As I remember it, to get the large trucks to Pattaya they had to get permission from the big boss, but he was unavailable until much later.

Had fire trucks at the fire running out of water because other water tankers were filling up on the same water line.

 

 

I was more thinking the 11 volunteers that died in the accident on the way to Pattaya to fight the fire.

12 minutes ago, carlyai said:

As I remember it, to get the large trucks to Pattaya they had to get permission from the big boss, but he was unavailable until much later.

Had fire trucks at the fire running out of water because other water tankers were filling up on the same water line.

 

Yes at that time Bangkok Fire Service was a section under the police. The police chief was required to grant permission for deployment out the Bangkok area. Pol Gen Pracha Promnok, the national police chief denied at the time that there was any delay in issuing an order.

 

Pattaya City fire service had no high rise access vehicles, such as turntable ladders and hydraulic platforms, so initial crews could only firefight externally from ground levels and areas reached by normal ladders. 
 

The internal fire main was not working and the fire pump for the riser system was defective. I would assume that the limited water supply, was due to effective water supply system in the area, so all fire hydrant possibly ran off a single pipeline, which could not maintain the required volume of water needed.

 

The crash that also delayed the Bangkok appliances occurred when a pick-up truck, carrying volunteers to the fire, overturned in the middle of outbound Bang Na-Trat Highway, throwing bodies all across the road and blocking it, leading to severe traffic congestion.

 

 

20 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A particularly grim discovery was made when fire crews found dozens of bodies piled near a sealed emergency exit. The fire escape door, which should have served as a vital route to safety, had reportedly been locked or obstructed,

 

20 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Most notably, the hotel’s fire suppression system was inoperable. The building’s water pump, essential for feeding the fire hoses and sprinkler system, was found to be defective, rendering the entire firefighting infrastructure useless at the moment it was most needed.

First thing i do before booking into any hotel.... have a good look around at safety features and ask the staff where emergency exits are.

21 hours ago, carlyai said:

I remember it well, a few things in life get etched in your mind and never leave, this and 4 of us tying dead guys up with wire to fit through the door of a helicopter.

From the outside it looked like the hotel was just rebuilt the same and I bet if you checked the stairwell they would still be locked.

After that when I stay at a hotel etc I check out the escape route. One hotel had the doors to the outside exit locked and when I bought it up with the manager he said if I didn't like it change hotels.

He said they have to lock the exits to stop people coming in from outside who weren't guests.

Sad. 😞

I was in Pattaya when this fire  happened and witnessed it and later on my mates went to Bangkok and checked into a hotel  somewhere  near  Nana Plaza and our rooms were on the 3rd floor. The first thing I did with the fire still fresh in my mind was to check the fire exit,. Stacked up in front of the door was old furniture such as beds chairs tables etc. and I couln't see but it was probably locked. I got a similar response as Carly did from the manager when he said we no have fires in this hotel it's ok no problem.It's a pity that they don't have regular visits from the fire department to check fire safety  like in civilised countries.

Has general fire safety improved since 1997?

If I remember correctly, there was a report that the fire exits were locked to prevent guests leaving without paying. 

 

Some poor Korean guest had recently got married. He was not in the hotel when the fire started but his new bride was and she died. 

A tragic accident that could have so easily been avoided or at least minimized if proper safety guidelines were followed.  Unfortunately, this is Thailand and they don't want to invest in safety.  I also heard that some of the fire exits were locked as they were worried about some guests doing a runner and not paying their bill.  

There's more re the royal Jomtien fire.

Investigtion indicated that the fire was caused by a fire in the gas tanks area which supplied gas to the kitchen. A couple of junior kitchen staff were then accused of doing something wrong with the gas tanks and they were the scapegoats, they got severl years in jail. 

On 7/11/2025 at 10:36 AM, carlyai said:

I remember it well, a few things in life get etched in your mind and never leave, this and 4 of us tying dead guys up with wire to fit through the door of a helicopter.

From the outside it looked like the hotel was just rebuilt the same and I bet if you checked the stairwell they would still be locked.

After that when I stay at a hotel etc I check out the escape route. One hotel had the doors to the outside exit locked and when I bought it up with the manager he said if I didn't like it change hotels.

He said they have to lock the exits to stop people coming in from outside who weren't guests.

Sad. 😞

Surely it should not be so difficult to make emergency exits that can only be opened from the inside in an emergency situation with alarms on them so that if they are misused the alarm will go off.
So a worthless excuse from that manager, and in my opinion, arguable even with the authorities.

It was a hot time in Thailand in the 1990s: the Kader Doll Factory fire, the Petchburi Road inferno, and this fire.

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

 

First thing i do before booking into any hotel.... have a good look around at safety features and ask the staff where emergency exits are.

555 the staff or manager will tell you they have the door escape key and will open it incase of an emergency. 🙂 Maybe the fire escape doors aren't locked but you have to check the door to the street is open.

Maybe it's just me and the cheap hotels I stay at. 🙂

 

On 7/12/2025 at 6:51 AM, hotchilli said:

First thing i do before booking into any hotel.... have a good look around at safety features and ask the staff where emergency exits are.

Maybe a good idea, but sometimes just wrong place at the wrong time. 

Planes, bars, clubs.

New Year 2008, Santika Club, Ekamai. 

 

a) architecture (a Thai-only profession by the Alien Business Law) was to blame partly
b) the nature of gate crashers and cheaters trying to leave without paying resulted in locking emergency exits 
c) fire prevention systems and fire drills - unheard of in many hotels to this day

I wonder, if all responsible people from that disaster saw the bench and got what they deserve; locking an emergency exit is, to my limited understanding, voluntary manslaughter ....

 

On 7/11/2025 at 9:59 AM, Georgealbert said:

Royal Jomtien Resort Hotel in Pattaya

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