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Tourist almost burns down apartment block in Thailand after falling asleep while frying chicken
A Dutch tourist nearly caused a fire in a Pattaya apartment block after falling asleep while frying chicken, leaving the stove on. Smoke spread through several floors and residents had to be woken and evacuated, prompting a response from police and fire crews.
The incident happened at Laguna Beach Resort in the early hours of 31 October, after 30-year-old Fethullah Ezka had been drinking. Responders found charred chicken in a pan in his flat, while Ezka was asleep; no one was injured or killed, but the smoke caused widespread panic. Emergency services say they are working overtime as tourist numbers bring more people into difficulty.
In short
- A tourist fell asleep with chicken frying on the stove.
- Smoke spread across three floors of a Pattaya apartment block.
- No injuries were reported, though residents were alarmed.
Explained simply
Pattaya is a seaside city in Thailand that attracts visitors from abroad, many of whom stay in apartment blocks and holiday resorts. In these buildings, smoke from a fire or cooking accident can spread beyond one flat and affect other residents.
The key people in this incident were the tourist, other residents who had to leave the building, and the police and firefighters who responded. No one was hurt, but the evacuation disrupted residents and required an emergency response.
Local emergency services say they are working overtime as visitor numbers rise and more people get into difficulty. The incident highlights the demands that busy tourist areas can place on emergency crews.