Pattaya investigates causes of fire at JA Plus Hotel, four injured

A thorough investigation has been launched in Pattaya into the causes of a major fire that engulfed the roof of the JA Plus Hotel on the evening of May 21. The incident led to the emergency evacuation of over 200 guests and injuries to four people. The flames erupted on the seventh floor of the hotel, located on Pattaya North Road. Thick smoke quickly filled the building, causing panic among guests. Four injured individuals were hospitalized: two women and a minor guest from Indonesia suffered smoke inhalation, while one man sustained extensive burns (over 20% of his body) and severe smoke inhalation while attempting to escape. Preliminary data suggests the fire started in the rooftop recreation area. The rapid spread of the flames is attributed to the use of flammable materials. The lower floors of the hotel primarily suffered from smoke damage. The morning after the incident, city authorities began inspecting the scene. After assessing the structural integrity of the building, a decision was made to conduct a full engineering examination. The JA Plus Hotel has been ordered to temporarily suspend operations until a comprehensive safety review is completed. It is presumed that the key structures of the building were not damaged, but permission to resume operations will only be granted after a thorough inspection. All guests were promptly relocated to nearby hotels. For readers: Always familiarize yourself with the evacuation plan and the location of emergency exits when checking into a hotel.