Thai hotels to be inspected after one collapsed, killing tourist
Hotels on the Thai holiday island of Koh Chang are being inspected after part of one collapsed, killing a tourist and injuring five others.
Thai Kotchakorn Thammachak died after a wing of the two-storey Siam Beach Hotel completely fell down after a rain storm at the weekend.
Authorities have ordered the hotel to remain closed while investigations continue.
The Provincial Department of Public Works suspects poor construction standards could be a factor.
The hotel will be closed indefinitely while other hotel buildings, which were not affected, are inspected.
Officials said they would consider bringing charges if building regulations were not met when it was constructed.
Trat province governor Channa Lemsaeng also ordered inspection teams to check all hotels on Koh Chang for any signs of poor construction work.
He noted the Siam Beach Hotel had been built over a wetland area, which might have been a contributing factor to the collapse.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025