The combustible wood and vinyl furnishings of the establishment allowed the fire to develop rapidly, as did a lack of fire separation, compartmentation, and active suppression systems. The fire burned for 8 to 12 hours across all floors and caused the deaths of at least 102 people and injuries to a further 63.Ī National Fire Protection Association report attributed the ignition of the fire to human error by a worker who had identified a faulty valve assembly on a gas cylinder in a ground-floor buffet while attempting to shut off the valve, the worker inadvertently increased the flow of gas and caused an explosion.
At approximately 10:20 local time, 11 July 1997, a fire ignited as a result of a faulty liquid propane gas cylinder in a ground floor buffet of the hotel. The Royal Jomtien Resort Hotel was a 450-room luxury hotel situated in a 17-story high-rise building on the northern end of Jomtien Beach, 110 kilometers (68 mi) south of Bangkok.
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