American tourist among 3 killed in fire that ripped through hotel in Thailand

An American tourist was among three killed when a fire ripped through a Bangkok hotel overnight, Thai authorities said Monday.The 35-year-old American, identified by local outlets as Freeman Timothy Jr., died after the blaze broke out on the fifth floor of the Ember Hotel near Bangkok’s popular backpacker district late Sunday.

No other details about Timothy were immediately released.The others killed were Pimentel Canales Albuquerque, a 24-year-old Brazilian woman who only got engaged last week, and a 27-year-old Ukrainian man, Tuzov Victor.“Authorities reacted quickly and the fire alarm sounded, but the smoke was fast,” Bangkok Gov.Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters.The Brazilian woman was found dead in one of the hotel rooms, while the two men were pronounced dead at a local hospital, cops said.

Canales and her fiancé, who had been vacationing in Thailand to celebrate their recent engagement, became separated as they tried to flee the flames, the Bangkok Post reported.Her fiancé survived the blaze, according to the outlet.

At least five others were hospitalized, including a Japanese woman who remained in critical condition, according to authorities. The others who were injured in the blaze were identified as a Japanese man, two Germans and a Thai electrician.Seventy-five people were staying at the hotel when the fire erupted, police said — with at least 34 rescued from the rooftop by fire crews.Sreekanth Kolamala, a 37-year-old tourist from India who witnessed the rescue operation, said firefighters “broke the glass over there to try to pull people out.”The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, according to authorities.The Post reached out to the US Embassy in Bangkok but didn’t hear back immediately.

With Post wires...